Cards beat Tigers on late push despite Flaherty’s 14 Ks
Pedro Pages’ sacrifice fly capped a two-run ninthinning rally as the visiting St. Louis Cardinals spoiled former teammate Jack Flaherty’s career-high 14-strikeout performance by defeating the Detroit Tigers 2-1 in the first game of a doubleheader on Tuesday.
The Cardinals broke through against Shelby Miller (3-3) in the ninth. Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt and Alec Burleson hit consecutive singles to tie the game with one out. Pages’ sacrifice fly scored Goldschmidt with the go-ahead run.
Cardinals starter Kyle Gibson gave up one run and four hits while striking out nine over seven strong innings. Matthew Liberatore (1-1) struck out two batters in the eighth and picked up the win, while Ryan Helsley struck out two more in the ninth and recorded his 10th save.
Flaherty struck out the first seven batters he faced, matching the American League record to start a game, en route to his 14strikeout afternoon. He gave up two hits in 6 2/3 innings. Riley Greene’s homer accounted for Detroit’s run.
The Tigers didn’t have a baserunner until Greene smashed a 2-0 fastball from Gibson over the center field fence to open the fourth. Greene’s sixth homer of the year was estimated at 421 feet. Gibson recovered quickly and struck out two of the next three batters.
Flaherty hit double digits in strikeouts by setting down Burleson with a high fastball at the start of the fifth.
Willson Contreras was the 13th victim for Flaherty in the sixth. The Tigers starter set a new career high by striking out Goldschmidt with a slider in the seventh.
ELSEWHERE
Twins: Fireballer Jhoan Duran is ready to join the Twins’ roster for the first time this season as Minnesota takes on the host Chicago White Sox.
The Twins returned Duran from his rehab assignment and reinstated him from the 15-day injured list, the team announced Tuesday.
Minnesota has won eight in a row with a makeshift bullpen compensating for not having the 100-mph heat from its planned closer yet in 2024. Duran went for testing on his aching side on March 16 and was shut down with an oblique strain.
Astros: Houston and first baseman Jose Abreu agreed that the former American League Most
Valuable Player would benefit from a minor league option.
Astros general manager Dana Brown revealed Tuesday that Abreu accepted an assignment to the team’s spring training facility in West Palm Beach, effective Wednesday.
ill help him get his rhythm and timing back. Jose is a team-first guy, and we applaud him for this. We know what this guy can do, and we’re confident in his determination and work ethic.”
In 11 MLB seasons with the White Sox (2014-22) and Astros (2023-24), Abreu has 261 homers, 327 doubles and 956 RBI.