Protection for Aaron Judge and Juan Soto has been a priority for the Yankees throughout the season. In their recent game against the Cardinals, they found that protection in the form of catcher Austin Wells. The lefty-swinging Wells hit cleanup behind Judge and delivered a two-run homer in the third inning, giving the Yankees a go-ahead lead in their 6-3 victory. This was not the only contribution Wells made to the game, as he hit another two-run shot in the eighth to help seal the win.
The win against the Cardinals came after the Yankees had dropped two of three games to the lowly Nationals in Washington. It was an encouraging performance for the Yankees, who also received a strong outing from pitcher Marcus Stroman. Despite giving up two runs in seven innings, Stroman was able to pitch around nine hits and keep the Cardinals at bay. This victory left the Cardinals still searching for their first win at Yankee Stadium since the 1964 World Series.
The game got off to a threatening start for the Yankees, as the Cardinals had runners on the corners in the second inning. However, Stroman was able to pitch his way out of the jam, getting Jordan Walker to swing for the second out and Pedro Pages to fly out to center. The Yankees took the lead in the bottom of the inning, thanks to a leadoff double by Giancarlo Stanton. Stanton, who had success against Cardinals pitcher Erick Fedde in the past, moved to third on a Jazz Chisholm Jr. grounder and scored on Anthony Volpe’s sacrifice fly.
The Cardinals fought back in the third inning, with four consecutive two-out singles off Stroman. Brendan Donovan’s base hit tied the game, and Paul Goldschmidt’s single gave the Cardinals a 2-1 lead. However, Soto, who had struggled in the previous series against his former team, tied the game again with a double that scored Gleyber Torres. It was then that Wells stepped up and hit his first home run of the night, a shot to right-center that put the Yankees ahead 4-2. He followed it up with another home run, his 12th of the season, to secure the victory for the Yankees.
Stroman found his rhythm after the third inning and cruised through the rest of the game. After needing 61 pitches to get through the first three innings, he only needed 37 over the next four. Jake Cousins gave up a solo home run to Nolan Arenado in the eighth, making it a one-run game, but Tommy Kahnle and Clay Holmes were able to finish the inning and preserve the win for the Yankees.
Overall, the game against the Cardinals showcased the Yankees’ search for protection for their star players, as well as the contributions of Austin Wells. It also highlighted the resilience of the team, bouncing back from a series loss against the Nationals. With strong performances from Marcus Stroman and key hits from Wells, the Yankees were able to secure a much-needed victory.
