W: Trevor Hoffman (1-1)
L: Kyle McClellan (0-1)
HR: Rickie Weeks (2), Corey Hart (1), Ryan Braun (1), Albert Pujols, 2 (4), Matt Holliday (3), Casey McGehee (2)
MVP: Casey McGehee (+.467)
LVP: Trevor Hoffman (-.323)
Win Expectancy Graph
SBNation Coverage
Mighty Casey did not strike out! After another blown save by Trevor Hoffman, Casey McGehee hit walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth to salvage a win in the series.
Randy Wolf started the game and looked sharp. After Corey Hart missed an easy catch to lead off the game, Wolf retired the next three batters in order. After cruising through the next two innings, he ran into some trouble, allowing three of the first four batters to reach. He then walked in a run and allowed an RBI groundout to Chris Carpenter. Later in the seventh, he allowed a two-run homer to Albert Pujols. Wolf gave way to Todd Coffey after pitching 6.2 innings and allowing 4 R (2 ER), walking two and striking out 3.
After managing only two hits off Chris Carpenter last season (that stat may or may not be completely false), the Crew tagged the Cardinal ace for 7 runs (5 ER). Rickie Weeks led off the game with his second home run of the season. In the second, Corey Hart added a solo homer of his own. With the help of some great defense by David Freese (two errors in the inning), the Crew tacked on three more runs in the third. In the fifth, Ryan Braun collected his first homer of the season, a two-run shot to right-center. Every starter today, except Alcides Escobar, collected a hit today.
Carlos Villanueva and LaTroy Hawkins followed up Coffey to combine for a scorless eighth to set the stage for Hoffman. But once again, the all-time saves leader could not get the job done, allowing another two-run homer to Pujols, followed imediately by a homer from Matt Holliday.
Despite the epic blown save, Hoffman still gets the win, thanks to our friend Casey McGehee and his ninth inning bomb, sending everyone home happy. Clearly, no one told Casey they were on national TV.