Blue Jays blow 4-0 lead, lose 8-4 in extras to the Cardinals

The Toronto Blue Jays played their first doubleheader of the season against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. They were one out away from winning their first pair of games until a home run changed it all.

Thanks to mother nature and April showers, the Toronto Blue Jays and St. Louis Cardinals got to play a doubleheader for the first time this season.

With Aaron Sanchez slated to start for the Blue Jays on Sunday, it was an audition for Mat Latos in the matinee game of the doubleheader. Either Latos or Casey Lawrence will remain in the rotation once Sanchez clears the DL.

Latos threw 82 pitches in six innings, allowing zero runs, four breaking balls, and four strikeouts.

His counterpart Carlos Martinez earned his 500th career strikeout against Kevin Pillar in the top of the third. Th 25-year old threw 97 pitches in six innings, five hits on three earned runs, three walks, and eight strikeouts.

The Blue Jays would take flight early in the game. Russell Martin continued to swing a hot bat when he hit a leadoff homerun in the top of the second on a 0-2 count. It was Martin’s third home run of the season and the eighth home run on the road trip for the Blue Jays.

Martin’s defensive abilities came into good use in the bottom of the fifth inning. The 34-year old picked off Kolten Wong between second and third after a missed bunt attempt by Martinez.

The Cardinals created more problems for themselves in the top of the sixth inning. After Martinez walked three straight batters to load up the bases, the Blue Jays picked up on their mistakes when Ryan Goins added to the Blue Jays lead with a 2 out, 2 run single.

Goins scored Jose Bautista and Martin to make it 3-0 for the Blue Jays.

Tyler Lyons would pitch for the Cardinals in the top of the seventh. He wasn’t that much help as Justin Smoak hit a sacrifice fly to centre field to score Pillar-making it 4-0 Blue Jays. Joe Biagini would pitch for the Jays in the bottom of the seventh.

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The Cardinals scored their first run of the game when Biagini gave up a 2 out RBI single to Randal Grichuk, who was picked off running to second base.

Joe Smith gave up a run in the bottom of the eighth when Matt Carpenter singled to right field, scoring Dexter Fowler and cutting the Blue Jays lead to 4-2.

The Blue Jays tried to score one more run in the top of the ninth before Jonathan Broxton retired the side after Pillar hit a single.

Unfortunately for the Jays, they couldn’t catch a break. The Cardinals decided to actually play baseball in the bottom of the ninth. Roberto Osuna gave up a 2 run home to Grichuk for his third blown save of the season. The game was all tied up 4-4- heading into another round of extra innings baseball.

Seung-hwan Oh would retire the side in order in the top of the 10th. However, Dominic Leone ran into some trouble in the bottom of the 10th. Two singles gave the Cardinals men on the corners with two outs. Yadier Molina was walked intentionally before Jose Martinez would pop out to deep right field to end the inning.

Ryan Tepera surrendered a leadoff triple to Wong in the bottom of the 11th. J.P. Howell would come into the game with the bases loaded, and one out.

Matt Carpenter was the hero for the Cardinals as he hit a walk-off grand slam. The Cardinals  (10-11) completed the comeback, winning 8-4. Matt Bowman is credited for the win and Tepera is credited for the loss.The Blue Jays (6-15) are the only team who has yet to win consecutive games this season.

The Blue Jays (6-15) are the only team who has yet to win consecutive games this season.

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Casey Lawrence (0-2) will start game two of the doubleheader this evening at 7:15 p.m. EST. Adam Wainwright  (1-3) will start for the Cardinals.