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Power surge: Cards relying on long ball in ’16
- Updated: September 1, 2016
MILWAUKEE — When Yadier Molina homered in the fourth inning Wednesday night, it marked a franchise record 20th straight game in which the St. Louis Cardinals had hit a home run.
This turned out to be relatively small consolation, as the Cardinals, looking for a three-game sweep over the Brewers, wound up producing no other runs in a 3-1 loss at Miller Park.
What the home run did was underscore the dramatic difference in the 2016 Cardinals. A team that successfully specialized in run prevention in recent seasons is now a power-hitting, run-creating bunch.
The Cardinals have reached the postseason in five straight years and have won the last three National League Central titles. Much of this success had to do with pitching and defense. But with the current team’s pitching staff hit hard by injuries, the long-ball offense is helping to keep the Cards afloat in the NL Wild Card race.
The Cardinals currently lead the NL with 189 homers in 132 games. Contrast this work with recent seasons. The 2015 Cardinals finished 11th in the NL with 137 homers. The 2014 Cardinals finished 15th with 105 homers. The 2013 Cardinals, eventually a World Series team, finished 13th with 125 homers.
The home runs in 20 consecutive games broke the franchise record set in July 2006. The Cardinals have hit 40 home runs in the last 20 games, led by Jedd Gyorko with nine, Brandon Moss and Randal Grichuk with seven each, and Stephen Piscotty with five.
The Cardinals have kept hitting with power despite the fact that shortstop Aledmys Diaz and left fielder Matt Holliday are both on the disabled list. When did this club become a power-hitting outfit?
“I still attribute it to the fact that the ball carried at Busch (Stadium) in April for some …
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