A mere week ago, the Cardinals were well out of postseason contention. They were under .500, as they were for most of June and July, the NL Central out of reach, and their Wild Card hopes dwindling as they fell to 8.5 games behind the Padres.
Just a week later, things seem to be looking up.
Buoyed by the return of Jack Flaherty on Friday, a red-hot Nolan Arenado, and solid starts from new acquisitions Jon Lester and J.A. Happ, the Cardinals finished a three-game sweep over the Royals on Sunday, winning their sixth straight game and third consecutive series as they advanced to five games over the .500 mark for the first time since early June.
At the same time, the Padres were reeling, losing three of four to the last-place Arizona Diamondbacks, which has allowed St. Louis to creep back into contention, coming to within 4.5 games of San Diego.
“That’s the key to this thing,” said manager Mike Shildt. “Putting it together, being consistent on both sides of the ball, much like we were to start the season, very consistent offensively, starting pitching, defensively, doing the little things.”
The Cards jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the first and four more in the second, highlighted by back-to-back home runs from Arenado and Tyler O’Neill for the second time in the series.
The early outburst was enough to back up Happ, who went 5 and two thirds without allowing a run. The new Cardinals lefty is now 2-0 with a 1.62 ERA in his first three starts with his new team.
“Some new surroundings and a new atmosphere can help sometimes. I’m trying to embrace the situation that we’re in and I’m trying to just go out an execute pitches and fortunately we’ve had a couple good ones, but the guys have been coming in and doing their job too. We scored some runs early and the relief group coming in, doing their job, and mixed with those runs is a good recipe.”
Now, a trip to the postseason for the third straight year doesn’t seem so unlikely anymore.
“This is why I’m here,” said Arenado. “We’re in it. We have a chance.”
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