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 Garcia's aggressive baserunning proved crucial Monday as the
Cardinals topped the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3.
"To be honest, I wanted to do something to get him the win," Garcia
said of Lynn. "I was like, 'I'm going to hit a home run,' but I know
better than that. I saw an opportunity to be aggressive and try to
change the game. It worked out this time."
Garcia singled to open the seventh inning off Arizona right-hander
Jhoulys Chacin (0-1), then alertly took third when no one covered
the bag on pinch hitter Peter Bourjos' sacrifice bunt down the third
base line. Garcia slid around Diamondbacks catcher Welington
Castillo, who had the throw from first bounce bounce off his glove
as he ran to the bag.
Center fielder Tommy Pham's single scored Garcia to snap a 2-2 tie,
and catcher Yadier Molina's two-run single capped a three-run
inning.
"It's one of those things that you are taught that when you are
little, but it never comes up," Garcia said. "It was going to be a
tough throw for the guy across the diamond, and the guy was going to
have to catch it on the run and tag me on the run."
Garcia and Castillo collided at third base, and Garcia was removed
in the bottom of the seventh with a bruised thumb. The injury is not
believed to be serious.
Third baseman Matt Carpenter hit his 19th homer of the season in the
third inning, and Lynn (10-8) gave up two runs in six innings to
become the Cardinals' fourth 10-game winner.
Lynn induced double-play grounders in the third, fourth, fifth and
sixth innings. The one in the fifth came on a 3-2 pitch to first
baseman Paul Goldschmidt after a throwing error by Garcia, whose
back foot slipped as he was attempting to throw to second and the
ball went into left field to put two runners on.
"Any time you get the three-hole hitter out with the bases loaded
and you get two outs out of it, it is a big situation," Lynn said.
Left fielder David Peralta had four of Arizona's 14 hits, driving in
a run with a ninth-inning single before right-hander Trevor
Rosenthal struck out pinch hitter Yasmany Tomas for his 39th save.
"We did a great job of getting guys in scoring position with some of
our good RBI guys coming up in 'Goldy' and (second baseman Aaron)
Hill," Arizona manager Chip Hale said. "We just hit into some double
plays. You also have to give the pitcher credit. He made good
pitches, Molina called good pitches, and they took advantage of us
being a little too aggressive."
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Molina had two hits as St. Louis improved its major-league-best
record to 79-45. The Cardinals won for the third time in five games.
Chacin, making his first major league start since June 2014 after
his contract was purchased from Triple-A Reno earlier in the day,
gave up three runs (two earned) in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out five
and walked one.
The Diamondbacks (62-62) won their previous four games, and they
were attempting to get two games over .500 for the first time this
season.
Arizona catcher Welington Castillo had two hits, including his 17th
homer, and center fielder A.J. Pollock added two hits.
"We made some mental mistakes, and they cost us," Hale said. "As you
learn to win and be a winning team, a winning organization, you
can't have games like that."
NOTES: St. Louis concluded a three-game sweep of Arizona at Busch
Stadium with a walk-off win May 27, the last time Arizona RHP Brad
Ziegler failed on a save chance. Ziegler converted his next 21 save
opportunities. ... Arizona RHP Jhoulys Chacin, who signed as a minor
league free agent June 20 after exercising an out clause in his
minor league deal with Cleveland, was 5-3 with a 3.39 ERA in 12
starts at Triple-A Reno. He was 38-48 with a 3.78 ERA in five
seasons with Colorado. ... Arizona RHP Zack Godley was optioned to
Double-A Mobile, and 1B/OF Danny Dorn was designated for assignment
to make room on the 40-man roster for Chacin. ... St. Louis 2B
Kolten Wong received a second consecutive start off, with Greg
Garcia opening at second base. Wong has one hit in his past 19
at-bats. ... Arizona RHP Archie Bradley was activated from the
disabled list and optioned to Triple-A Reno.
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