Tyler O’Neill homers twice as Cardinals beat Indians
Tyler O’Neill hit two homers and drove in three runs as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the visiting Cleveland Indians 8-2 Wednesday to snap their six-game losing streak.
Matt Carpenter hit a three-run double and Paul Goldschmidt added a solo homer for the Cardinals, who had lost eight of their last nine games and 12 of their last 18.
Winning pitcher Adam Wainwright (4-5) allowed two first-inning runs before settling in to allow just one baserunner in the next six innings – when he hit Bradley Zimmer with a pitch in the fifth inning. Wainwright allowed just three hits, struck out six and didn’t walk a batter in seven innings.
Relievers Genesis Cabrera and Ryan Helsley retired the Indians in order in the last two innings.
Indians starting pitcher Jean Carlos Mejia (1-1) also struggled in the first inning, but he did not survive. The rookie retired just two batters and allowed four runs on three hits and two walks.
The Indians took a quick 2-0 lead. Cesar Hernandez led off the game with a double down the right field line. Amed Rosario reached on an infield single, Eddie Rosario hit a one-out RBI double, and Harold Ramirez hit a sacrifice fly.
But the Cardinals answered in a big way. Tommy Edman hit a leadoff double, Nolan Arenado drew a two-out walk and O’Neill hit an infield single to load the bases.
Yadier Molina walked to force home a run, and Carpenter ripped his double into the right field corner to clear the bases and end Mejia’s night.
The Cardinals pushed their lead 6-2 in the third inning off of reliever Phil Maton. Arenado smacked a double into the left field corner, and O’Neill crushed a two-run homer deep into the left field stands.
Goldschmidt and O’Neill hit solo homers off of reliever Trevor Stephan in the seventh inning to push the lead to 8-2.
–Field Level Media
