St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jaime Garcia (L) is congratulated by pitcher Michael Wacha in the dugout after coming out of the game against the Atlanta Braves in the seventh inning at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on May 18, 2014. UPI/Bill Greenblatt
Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia pitched seven innings in his first outing in more than a year. Garcia, who underwent surgery in May 2013 to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his pitching shoulder, gave up four runs and five hits with five strikeouts. The outing was Garcia’s 100th appearance in the major leagues, but first since May 17, 2013.
In the ninth inning, the Atlanta Braves used a two-run rally to win 6-5 over the Cardinals. Ryan Doumit scored on a wild pitch from Carlos Martinez. Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman started the rally with a leadoff single off closer Trevor Rosenthal (0-2). With two outs, Freeman went to third on pinch hitter Ryan Doumit’s double to right. Rosenthal intentionally walked pinch hitter Evan Gattis to load the bases and then walked Jordan Schafer to force in the tying run. Martinez relieved Rosenthal and had a wild pitch while facing Ramiro Pena that scored Doumit to make it 6-5.
“It would have been a big win, no question,” St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. “They’re all tough, but to have a lead in the ninth, even a slim one, that a tough one to lose.”
