Mike Leake, Cardinals’ rotation finding another gear

12:48 AM ET

ST. LOUIS — The first 189 times Mike Leake started a major league game, he struck out 10 batters or more twice. The next two times he started a major league game, he struck out 10 batters or more twice.

Those last two outings happen to have come back-to-back for Leake, who became linked with a St. Louis Cardinals legend during Monday night’s 10-2 win over the San Diego Padres.

Leake and Hall of Famer Bob Gibson, who had a little more giddy-up on his fastball, are the only pitchers in St. Louis history to record double-digit strikeout games without a walk in back-to-back games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

“I’m trying to attack and trying to get a few more strikeouts,” Leake said. “I think that’s kind of helping.”

Mike Leake has shown masterful command in his past 48 2/3 innings, recording 45 strikeouts and just three walks. Jeff Curry/USA TODAY Sports

Leake’s dominance had the makings of a pattern. Victimized at times by poor Cardinals fielding earlier this season, Leake seemed intent on doing it himself if he must. Since the start of June, Leake’s fielding independent pitching (FIP) was 3.01 going into Monday. His ERA over the same span was 4.64. It seems his infielders have been letting him down, not surprising since the Cardinals lead the major leagues in errors, among the measures of their defensive ineptitude.

A young veteran, Leake appears to be adapting, finding …

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