During the NLDS, I asked Twitter and Instagram to submit their favorite moments during the 2019 season. The following are submitted by Cardinals fans in no particular order. Enjoy!
Adam Wainwright’s 126-pitch outing against rival Cubs.
- On June 2, 2019 — The 37-year old Wainwright threw the most pitches he had thrown since August 23, 2013 when he tossed 128. Most fans were concerned with Shildt keeping him in after a career-high walk and base hit with only one out. With two on and two out, Kolten Wong made the leaping catch to send the Cardinals into the bottom of the eighth inning. The Cardinals went ahead to win 2-1 and the series in a sweep.
Albert Pujols returns home and receives a standing ovation.
- On June 22, 2019 — Nearly eight years after Albert Pujols stood in a St. Louis Cardinals’ uniform, he returned to the place he once called home. The first ovation came from 48,423 in Busch Stadium as Pujols walked out of the visiting team’s dugout to warm up. The second ovation came after the scoreboard highlighted his career in St. Louis. The third ovation came when Pujols stepped up to the plate for his first AB. For approximately 80 seconds, everyone in the stadium and at home watching on television embraced the man who once helped the Cardinals to victory. Yadier Molina cleared home plate out of respect toward his friend and former teammate, ending in an embrace. “Words cannot describe this night,” Pujols said.
Lane Thomas hits a grand slam in a comeback win against the Pirates.
- On August 11, 2019 — With bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Lane Thomas launched a grand slam 410 feet. His third home run of the season came after Pirates reliever Kyle Crick allowed two singles and two hit batters. Thomas connected on the seventh pitch with a 3-2 count. The Cardinals would take the Sunday victory 11-9 and Thomas certainly earned his place in the hearts of St. Louis fans.
In the May drought, Jedd Gyorko showered his team with a three-run homer.
- On May 25, 2019 — The month of May wasn’t the prettiest month for the St. Louis Cardinals. Jedd Gyorko delivered a 435 foot three-run home run as a pinch-hitter to lift his team to a 6-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves. His first home run of the 2019 season and first home run as a pinch-hitter since 2015.
The Cardinals sweep the Cubs and punch their postseason ticket.
- On September 22, 2019 — The first four-game series sweep for the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley since May 1921 changed everything. The Cardinals punched their ticket to the postseason by completely devastating the Chicago Cubs. With a little help from Cubs’ own Craig Kimbrel, it was a weekend no one will ever forget.
Paul Goldschmidt hits three home runs in his second game with the St. Louis Cardinals.
- On March 29, 2019 — In his second game with the Cardinals, Paul Goldschmidt hammered three home runs and drove in five, leading his new family to a 9-5 victory. Goldschmidt also had a fourth hit, a single. He was the first player in MLB history to hit three home runs in either his first or second game with a new team. He was also intentionally walked in the ninth inning, denying his chance at home run number four. On that night, everyone thought about buying a Goldschmidt jersey or shirsey.
Paul DeJong makes a little bit of history while in Pittsburgh.
- On July 25, 2019 — Paul DeJong became the 12th St. Louis Cardinal in franchise history to record a three-home run game as he batted 4-for-4 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He kickstarted a nine-run inning for the Cardinals with a two-run home run in the second inning. After doubling during his second at bat in the second inning, DeJong hit his second two-run homer in the fourth inning. The third homer came off of Roberto Osuna, a position player pitching in the seventh inning. DeJong became the first shortstop to accomplish this for St. Louis in modern baseball history. “Today, I was a little bit more active with my hands to start, and that was my rhythm.”
Tommy Edman launches the Cardinals into victory against the Seattle Mariners.
- On July 3, 2019 — St. Louis entered the ninth inning trailing 2-0 against Seattle after being shutout by former teammate Mike Leake. Tommy Edman came up to the plate as a pinch-hitter for Kolten Wong and hit a 2-2 pitch for his third home run of the season and first from the right side of the plate. Dexter Fowler hit a single to drive in Jose Martinez cutting the score to 2-1, Yadier Molina hit a sacrifice fly to score Paul Goldschmidt as the tying run and Tyler O’Neill walked resulting in Edman scoring himself, Fowler, and O’Neill. Some look at this night as a turning point for the Cardinals’ 2019 season.
Harrison Bader’s first walk-off during a double-double header weekend in St. Louis.
- On September 1, 2019 — Despite being sent back to AAA to fix his offensive slump, Harrison Bader played hero in a 4-3 win against the Cincinnati Reds. With Tyler O’Neill at third base and Yadier Molina at second, Bader stepped you to the plate and looked at five infields and two outfielders. He took a called strike and then a ball before lifting a fly ball into right field — where nobody was playing. Center fielder Nick Senzel wasn’t able to make it in time to catch the ball, allowing O’Neill to score. Bader checked off his first career walk-off and celebrated with a Gatorade bath. “I was trying to get the ball in the air.”
Yadi, the iconic postseason hero that pushed his team to Game 5.
- The NLDS looked to be sealed during Game 4 until Yadier Molina kept his team in the fight, scoring Paul Goldschmidt to tie the game in the eighth inning. With runners on the corners, one out and the entire season on the line, Molina stepped up to the plate. Molina’s fly ball was hit deep enough to left field to score Kolten Wong, resulting in the Cardinals winning 5-4 in the 10th inning. The Cardinals would go on to win Game 5 with a historic 10-run inning.