After Yadier Molina’s two homers led the St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-2 win at Milwaukee Saturday
Corey Grant Jersey , manager Mike Matheny spoke hopefully of a bounce the win would create.
His instinct proved correct Sunday when St. Louis capped a rough road trip with an 8-2 rout that allowed it to salvage a split of a four-game series with
the National League Central leaders and pushed it within 4 1/2 games of the
Brewers.
The Cardinals open a six-game homestand Monday night in Busch Stadium with the second of four straight series against first-place teams, facing the
Cleveland Indians.
St. Louis (40-36) scored just seven runs in its first three games in Milwaukee, whiffing 34 times, with 15 occurring in a 2-1 loss Friday night. It
fanned another 11 times on Sunday but mixed in 10 hits, including a three-run
homer by Jose Martinez to cap a five-run fourth inning that turned momentum for
good.
While the Cardinals enter the series with hope that they are turning things around, Cleveland (43-33) did so during the last week. Its 12-2 rout Sunday of
Detroit was its seventh straight win, moving it eight games ahead of the Tigers
and Minnesota Twins in the American League Central.
The Indians also appear to have the mound advantage for the series opener with Mike Clevinger (6-2, 3.00 ERA) against spot starter John Gant
(1-2
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Clevinger’s last start was one of his best this year. He notched 10 strikeouts Tuesday night in 7 2/3 innings of a 6-3 win over the Chicago White
Sox at Progressive Field. Clevinger has lasted at least six innings in five
straight starts, solidifying his place in a deep rotation.
“His fastball had really good life,” Chicago manager Rick Renteria told mlb.com. “He was keeping the ball down below the zone. You saw him get a lot of
checked swings on some of his breaking pitches … he’s got a pretty good
repertoire and was able to command consistently in the zone consistently
throughout the whole ballgame.”
Gant is starting in place of Michael Wacha, who took his 8-2 record to the disabled list last week after suffering an oblique strain Wednesday in
Philadelphia. The former Atlanta Braves prospect is 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA in three
starts this year, leading some to wonder why Dakota Hudson (10-2 at Triple-A
Memphis) or Daniel Poncedeleon was not picked to replace Wacha.
In his last start, Gant lasted 5 1/3 innings on May 25 in Pittsburgh, losing 8-1 despite fanning seven and walking none. He was charged with four hits and
three runs.
Gant has made one career start against Cleveland, lasting two innings in a 2016 game for the Braves and permitting one run and three hits with two
strikeouts.
Carlos Martinez (3-4
Shannon Sharpe Jersey , 3.24) starts Tuesday night for St. Louis opposite Corey Kluber (11-3, 2.10). Jack Flaherty (3-2, 2.50) faces the Indians’ Shane
Bieber (2-0, 2.45) in a battle of rookie right-handers on Wednesday night.
The Cowboys list Tavon Austin as a running back on their roster, but he starts his day in the wide receivers room.
“That’s what he played in college and what he’s been playing in the NFL,” offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said. “He starts there, but he plays a lot
of things for us, so he’ll be in all the rooms at some point.”
When the Cowboys traded for Austin on the final day of the draft
Emmanuel Sanders Jersey , executive vice president Stephen Jones tabbed Austin a “web back.” Whatever a web back is.
It’s something similar to the role Lance Dunbar played for the Cowboys, only more.
“I don’t care what I’m being called as long as I’m playing,” Austin said. “That’s all that matters. You can call me anything you want as long as I’m
playing.”
Austin also likely becomes the team’s punt returner, and the Cowboys could try him as a kick returner, too, although he has only 25 kickoff returns in his
career.
Jones said the Cowboys expect to get Austin between 12 and 24 touches a game, which seems overambitious. Austin averaged 7.5 touches, including
returns
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“That felt like my college days,” Austin said of Jones’ comment. “I felt like I was back at West Virginia. That’s definitely a good feeling for him to even
feel like he wants to do that to me. Being in this league, you’re probably only
guaranteed three or four times a game. For him to say that, I’m blessed, and I
hope it does come, and I can take advantage every time they give it to
me.”
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