Saggese (on his birthday!) steps up for Cards after Winn exits game

ST. LOUIS -- Thomas Saggese wasn’t in the starting lineup for the Cardinals on his birthday, but found his way into Friday’s game at Busch Stadium in time to make an impact.

Saggese served as a defensive replacement for shortstop Masyn Winn (left lower leg contusion) in the top of the fifth inning and delivered the game-tying swing in the bottom half. He ripped a single through the left side of the infield to score Jordan Walker from second base.

One batter later, a José Fermín sacrifice fly followed Saggese’s RBI, plating the go-ahead run, which held up as the game-winner. The Cardinals beat the Red Sox, 3-2.

Winn was hit in the left leg, just below the knee, by an 84.0 mph sweeper from Red Sox starter Connelly Early in the bottom of the third inning. He had a wrap on his leg in the postgame clubhouse, but wasn’t overly concerned about his status.

Winn initially stayed in the game to run the bases, but realized while trying to play through the defensive half of the fourth inning that a substitution was ultimately the right call.

“I knew it got me pretty good whenever it happened,” Winn said. “I thought I could just play through it. Whenever I went out on defense I realized it wasn’t worth [it] -- I couldn't really run at full speed -- so it’s like, 'Man, we need to get somebody in here that can.'”

That "somebody" ended up being Saggese, who noticed Winn’s reaction to getting hit by the pitch and began getting loose and preparing for the possibility that he would need to enter the game in his stead.

“Things like that tend to -- they either get better or they get worse,” Saggese said. “Just knowing that and preparing, as soon as that happens.”

Saggese immediately turned in a solid defensive play upon entering the game, snaring a Caleb Durbin line drive to end the top of the fifth. His key at-bat to help produce the Cardinals’ rally followed shortly thereafter.

“It’s his birthday today, too,” Winn made sure to let the assembled reporters know. “That’s a day you're going to get to look back on and be like, man, I really started the day on the bench, wasn’t expecting much, and then became the hero of the game. So, for him and for the team, that was huge.”

While Winn highlighted the birthday, Saggese sheepishly downplayed the anniversary of his natal circumstances.

“Definitely a blessing to have another year on this earth and another year reflecting on things like that,” Saggese said. “Reflecting on what God has done throughout my past year of living is cool. But after that, it’s like, it’s another day. I’ve got a job to do. Let me go try to help the team win.”

Which is exactly what Saggese was able to do for the Cardinals on Friday -- not a bad way to spend a birthday.

“I guess it’s cool,” he eventually conceded with a grin.