Gant, Cardinals shut out Indians, 4-0

[June 26, 2018]  St. Louis Cardinals right-hander John Gant allowed just an infield single over seven shutout innings Monday night, teaming with three relievers for a 4-0 victory that snapped the Cleveland Indians' seven-game winning streak in a rain-delayed game in St. Louis.

The start of the opener of a three-game interleague series, the first meeting between the Indians and Cardinals in St. Louis since 2012, was delayed 80 minutes by rain.

Making just his fourth start of the season, Gant (2-2) surrendered an infield single to catcher Yan Gomes with two outs in the second inning en route to his first win as a starter since June of 2016 for Atlanta against the New York Mets.

Gant, who had recorded a 6.00 ERA in his first three starts of the season, walked five and stuck out four.

The Cardinals survived a shaky bullpen to hold on for the win.

Up 3-0, Jordan Hicks allowed a walk and a two-out single to Jose Ramirez in the eighth inning before retiring Edwin Encarnacion, representing the potential tying run, on a grounder to shortstop.

Trying to protect a four-run lead, Austin Gomber served up consecutive singles to pinch hitter Rajai Davis and Jason Kipnis to open the ninth.

Closer Bud Norris then came on to strike out Gomes before getting Tyler Naquin to line into a double play to pick up his 15th save of the season and complete the Cardinals' fifth shutout.

The Cardinals gave Gant all the offensive support he would need in the third inning, when Marcell Ozuna smacked a two-out, two-run double that scored Matt Carpenter, who had singled, and Greg Garcia, who had walked.

Cardinals starting pitcher John Gant (53) pitches to Cleveland Indians center fielder Tyler Naquin (30) during the second inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

St. Louis added a single run in the sixth on an RBI double by Kolten Wong and completed its scoring in the eighth when Yadier Molina, who had doubled, scored on Harrison Bader's infield single.

All four Cardinals runs scored with two outs.

Indians starter Mike Clevinger (6-3) took the loss, allowing two runs and six hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out four.

Clevinger had been unbeaten in his previous five starts, having struck out 11 and 10, respectively, in his previous two outings.

Carpenter collected three hits, including a double, for the Cardinals, who won their third straight in the opener of a six-game homestand.

Ozuna had a double, a single and two RBIs, while Bader added a pair of singles for St. Louis, which improved to 5-5 in interleague play this season.

The Indians finished with four hits, all singles, in the opener of a nine-game trip. They fell to 6-3 in interleague play.

--Field Level Media

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