ST. LOUIS — One reason that the St. Louis Cardinals stand alone with the best record in baseball is their almost freaky ability to limit the opponents’ damage with runners in scoring position.
That was on full display Monday night in Busch Stadium, where Cardinals starter Lance Lynn didn’t have his best stuff or command but bore down in pressure situations to keep the Cincinnati Reds in check during a 4-1 win.
Lynn tightroped his way through a bases-loaded, no-out spot in the third, giving up just one run. After Jay Bruce ended an eight-pitch at-bat with a sacrifice fly, Lynn induced a first-pitch, double-play grounder from the impatient Brayan Pena.
In the seventh, the Reds pushed two men aboard for Home Run Derby champ Todd Frazier, he of the 27 homers and 29 doubles. Lynn fed Frazier fastball after fastball, the count reaching 3-2 and Frazier extending the plate appearance to eight pitches.
The last offering, a 94 mph fastball, produced a weak foulout to first baseman Dan Johnson. Lynn pumped his fist, Frazier slammed his bat in frustration, and the game was essentially decided.
“Lance didn’t have his best stuff tonight,” St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. “He was fighting himself a little bit, but he was battling.”