Paul Goldschmidt played a pivotal role in the St. Louis Cardinals’ 6-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night, surpassing 1,100 RBIs with a two-run single that helped secure the win.
Goldschmidt’s two-run single off Kevin Kelly (4-2) in the fourth inning propelled the Cardinals ahead 5-2. This hit marked a significant milestone for Goldschmidt, as he achieved 1,101 RBIs in his career.
St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol commented on the timely hits that contributed to the victory, stating, “Got some guys on, Goldie with the big swing there, drove in two.”
Dakota Hudson (3-0) pitched five innings, allowing three runs and seven hits. This marked his third start and ninth appearance since being called up from Triple-A Memphis last month. Hudson’s performance contributed to the Cardinals’ chances of securing the win.
Giovanny Gallegos, the fourth Cardinals reliever, closed out the game with a perfect ninth inning, earning his ninth save in 14 chances.
Despite the victory, the Cardinals are facing a challenging path to finish the season at .500, needing to go 31-17 to achieve the milestone.
The Tampa Bay Rays, who are currently leading in the AL wild card race, had a strong performance from Jose Siri, who hit two home runs. However, the Rays’ efforts were not enough to overcome the Cardinals.
Nolan Arenado and Jordan Walker had RBI singles in the third inning, giving the Cardinals a 3-2 lead. Lars Nootbaar added a solo home run in the seventh inning, extending the Cardinals’ lead.
Siri’s two home runs for the Rays demonstrated his power, contributing to Tampa Bay’s efforts to stay in the game.
The Cardinals and Rays will continue their series, with left-hander Matthew Liberatore (1-4) set to start for the Cardinals and right-hander Zack Littell (2-2) taking the mound for the Rays in the upcoming game.
