This really isn’t the St. Louis Cardinals’ season.
The Cardinals lost to the Miami Marlins 10-9 on Wednesday night after a brutal error that gave the Marlins a walk-off win.
St. Louis had entered the ninth down 8-7 to the Marlins but took the lead on a 2-out, 2-run home run by Jordan Walker. Just when you thought something might be going St. Louis’ way, disaster struck.
The Marlins got two runners on with one out and had Joey Wendle at the plate against closer Jordan Hicks. He hit a slow chopper back to Hicks. Hicks might have had a chance at a double play by throwing to second, but he opted for the easier out at first — or what should have been an easy out.
Instead, Hicks airmailed the throw over first baseman Paul Goldschmidt’s head and into right field. The throwing error allowed the Marlins to score two runs to win the game 10-9.
HOW DO YA LIKE THAT?!?!?!??!?!?!
THE MARLINS WALK IT OFF AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!@Marlins | #MakeItMiami pic.twitter.com/QPsFitCWmT
— Marlins on FanDuel Sports Network (@FDSN_Marlins) July 6, 2023
That is a brutal way to go down.
That should be such an easy, routine play, and yet we see pitchers make that same mistake all the time.
Why is that? Because they’re used to repeating the exact same motion, making the exact same throw, every other minute. To go from making 30 pitches (including warmups) where you’re aiming the ball at the same place, with the same arm speed, and to the same distance, makes it tough to then adjust to throwing the ball at a different target, speed and distance. That’s why it’s often advised for pitchers to underhand the ball to first whenever possible.
There is no doubt that Hicks wishes he had that one back. Had he made the play, Hicks would have had two outs with the No. 8 hitter coming up. Instead, St. Louis has now dropped to a brutal 35-51 on the season.
