- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Matheny gets 8-inning scoreless effort from ‘pen
- Updated: October 1, 2016
ST. LOUIS — Manager Mike Matheny worked off script with tremendous success on Saturday, as he deployed a succession of six relievers to cover the innings left exposed by another ineffective start. Roles were relinquished in an all-hands-on-deck effort from the Cardinals’ bullpen that led to a 4-3 win over the Pirates and assured the club of entering its regular-season finale still in the National League Wild Card mix.
It took eight scoreless innings from the bullpen to buy time for the offense to emerge from a three-run hole. It eventually did, and the victory turned out to be season-saving, as the Giants followed it with a win of their own. As a result, the Cardinals remain one game behind the Giants, who would come to St. Louis for a tiebreaker game on Monday if Sunday’s results leave the two teams with identical records.
Whoever snags that second NL Wild Card spot will face the Mets on the road in Wednesday’s Wild Card Game.
“Especially a game like today where everything is on the line, I think everybody was trying to do what they could to help,” said Trevor Rosenthal, whose three-inning appearance was the cornerstone of the bullpen’s success. “I think everybody had that sense of, ‘You know what? Let’s do whatever we can to fight tooth and nail.’ It was an amazing game to watch and be a part …
