We Just Witnessed An All-Time Postseason Meltdown From The Cardinals Bullpen
Dilip Vishwanat. Getty Images.If you had to guess one team playing today that would be poised for a spectacular bullpen meltdown it would be the Philadelphia Phillies no question. Their pen is just about as unreliable as it gets and boasted the highest ERA among any team still standing. Oh how the turns table. Down two in the 9th, the fightins' scored SIX off the Cardinals pen to take Game 1 of the Wild Card series in STUNNING fashion.
Advertisement
We've all seen blown leads before, but the Cardinals actually have never had this happen to them the in the postseason.
I mean that's some fucking stat.
The Cards got 5.1 fantastic innings from Jose Quintana with Hicks and Gallegos doing their part afterwards. The pen held itself together until Oli Marmol turned to closer Ryan Helsley in the 8th, needing a five out save. The Cards closer has been nearly untouchable this year posted a 1.25 ERA over 64.2 innings, striking out 94 in the process. He had been dealing with a jammed finger he suffered earlier in the week, but didn't have any issues when throwing a recent pen session. Despite looking nails in the 8th inning, the 9th did not fair well for the Cardinals closer. A one out Realmuto single was followed by two walks and a hit by pitch. Helsley completely fell apart as Marmol watched from the dugout.
Knowing he needed 5 outs and was coming in compromised, don't you think you shoulda had someone up right away in the 9th just in case? It was too late when pitching coach Mike Maddux strolled out there with the trainer aiming to use Helsley's finger as an excuse to pull him and give the next arm as much time as possible to get loose. Jean Segura greeted Andre Pallante with a seeing eye single through the hole to take the lead. How did he possibly get his bat on the ball here?
Advertisement
Like I said, all-time meltdown from the Cardinals.
Amazing win for the Phillies as articulated via our blockhead
Absolutely gut-wrench/shell-shocking loss for St. Louis.
Now if you're St. Louis you gotta turnaround real quick tomorrow where you're gonna be strapped in the backend of the pen while dealing with the possibility of elimination. All hands on deck .Safe to say the Cards' bats need to mash tomorrow. Goodness what a collapse.
Postseason baseball baby, drink it in
*I'm absolutely terrified the Yankees uncertain pen is gonna pull this shit and leave me standing on a ledge afterwards. That's a future Hubbs problem though, for now we're just enjoying the games!