ST. LOUIS — As the first arm up in a bullpen effort on Wednesday night, Cardinals lefty Matthew Liberatore delivered perhaps his strongest performance of the season.

Called upon to start Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, Liberatore completed six scoreless innings and struck out eight batters in a 4-1 win over the Braves. His innings total set a season-high while the strikeouts were a career high. Liberatore came into Wednesday having pitched in 27 games with 22 of those in relief.

The lefty was announced as the starter for Game 2 early on Wednesday as the Cardinals moved Andre Pallante’s scheduled start from Wednesday to Friday. The Cardinals elected to go with a bullpen game as a way to lighten the starting pitching staff’s load considering they have just two off-days between Wednesday and the July 15 All-Star break.

Liberatore (2-2) was aided to a lead in the second inning on a two-run double from Alec Burleson that came after Michael Siani singled with two outs in the frame and advanced to third on a Masyn Winn single.

The Cardinals (41-38) secured their second consecutive series win and improved to 26-13 since May 12, giving them the best record in the National League during that stretch.

St. Louis dropped the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader, 6-2, after starter Kyle Gibson gave up four runs in four innings and reliever Kyle Leahy allowed a two-run homer in the sixth inning. Cardinals hitters were held to four hits in Game 1 with all four coming against starter Reynaldo Lopez, who lasted five innings. Braves relievers combined to keep St. Louis to no hits and two walks over the last four innings of Game 1.

Liberatore quiets Atlanta’s order

After allowing a leadoff single to Jarred Kelenic to begin the game, Liberatore retired 15 of the next 17 batters that stepped to the plate to face him. Kelenic singled again off Liberatore in the third inning but was left stranded as Ozzie Albies flied out to center field. The only Brave not named Kelenic to reach base against Liberatore on Wednesday night was Austin Riley.

The lefty did not allow a base runner to advance beyond second base.

Liberatore, a former top pitching prospect in the Cardinals system and a starter upon his arrival to the majors in 2022, had 10 swings-and-misses on his slider, per Statcast. His sinker, which he threw 27 times, averaged 94.6 mph and reached as high as 96.5 mph.

...continued

©2024 STLtoday.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.