ST. LOUIS -- Needing to tap into a relentless approach at the plate following a disappointing one-run effort on Saturday, the Cardinals’ lineup immediately showed it meant business in Sunday’s 5-1 win in the series finale against the Cubs.
The starting defensive alignment for the Cardinals might have been considered unorthodox -- but not without purpose. Recently recalled slugger Nelson Velázquez got his first opportunity to get his feet on the outfield grass in left, while José Fermín got his first start of the season in center field.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol stacked right-handed bats with hopes of blitzing Cubs lefty Jordan Wicks. But, before the game even reached Velázquez in the cleanup spot, the Cardinals’ lineup had already gotten the memo.
With three straight hits to lead off the bottom of the first, the Cardinals jumped out early on Wicks and kept up the pressure, charging Wicks with three earned runs over a brief two-plus-inning appearance. The Cardinals secured the win in the rubber game of the rivalry series.
Craig Counsell’s third-inning pivot to right-hander Ethan Roberts didn’t deter the Redbirds. Masyn Winn punctuated a three-run third inning with a two-run single that put Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore in the driver’s seat with a 5-0 lead.
While Liberatore’s recently gaudy strikeout totals came back down to earth, he delivered a comprehensive effort in Sunday’s start. Liberatore navigated 5 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball before turning the ball over to the freshly recalled Hunter Dobbins with one out in the sixth.
Though Marmol had acknowledged that it would be ideal to get Dobbins, a starter by trade, into the game with a clean inning, he at least joined the fray with nobody on base.
Perhaps the unusual nature of the relief routine impacted Dobbins when he allowed a home run to the first batter he faced in Alex Bregman, but the 26-year-old settled in thereafter. Dobbins provided the Cardinals with 11 valuable outs to spell an otherwise beleaguered bullpen, finishing the game as the only reliever needed by Marmol on the night.
With starters Andre Pallante and Kyle Leahy combining to provide just 7 1/3 innings across the first two games of the series, Dobbins’ ability to supply some respite for the other relievers came right on time.