Cardinals deliver walk-off win against Royals to kick off I-70 series
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ST. LOUIS -- Yohel Pozo, fresh off a three-hit game in West Sacramento on Thursday, delivered a two-out hit through the right side of the infield to send the Cardinals home with a thrilling 5-4 walk-off win to open this weekend’s I-70 Series.
The Cardinals finally broke through with the game-winning swing after the Royals walked JJ Wetherholt intentionally in the 11th. Unlike a recent game in which the Brewers walked Wetherholt to get to Iván Herrera -- to an unfortunate end for Milwaukee -- Herrera was no longer positioned behind Wetherholt in the order as of Friday’s 11th inning.
Herrera was previously lifted for a pinch-runner, which meant Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol would turn to his bench to counter the Wetherholt walk.
Enter Pozo, who came through in a pinch and capped the night a hero.
Friday also produced another sign of Jordan Walker's breakout season. He didn’t need a favorable hitter’s count to do damage against Royals starter Michael Wacha in the bottom of the fourth inning.
After falling behind in an 0-2 count, Walker stayed in the fight to recognize and pummel a Wacha changeup to straightaway center field, landing his 13th home run of the season onto the berm.