Stroman double sets up Jays for 11-inning win in St. Louis
ST. LOUIS -- Pitcher Marcus Stroman doubled for his first major league hit in the top of the 11th inning Tuesday night and scored the winning run to give the Toronto Blue Jays a wacky 6-5 victory over the mistake-prone St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
Stroman, pinch-hitting for winning pitcher Jason Grilli (1-2) because Toronto was out of position players, laced a 1-2 pitch from Miguel Socolovich (0-1) into the left field corner. Stroman raced home from second when shortstop Aledmys Diaz threw wide of first on Ezequiel Carrera's two-out bouncer for St. Louis' fourth error of the game.
Ryan Tepera worked around a leadoff single by pinch hitter Eric Fryer in the bottom of the 11th for his first save, handing the Cardinals (9-11) just their second loss in eight games.
Toronto (6-14) took a 5-4 lead in the top of the ninth when Jose Bautista muscled an 0-2 curve into left for an RBI single, but St. Louis forced extra innings on Dexter Fowler's two-out infield single between third and short that scored Randal Grichuk.
The Blue Jays' grabbed a 4-2 advantage in the seventh. Kevin Pillar tripled off the right field wall and pinch hitter Chris Coghlan, who walked, scored by leaping over catcher Yadier Molina and landing head-first on the plate. An error on Carrera's grounder plated Pillar.
But the Cardinals wiped it out when Jose Martinez launched the first homer of his big-league career, a 390-foot blast into the St. Louis bullpen in right-center that scored Kolten Wong to tie the game.
Both starters got no-decisions despite solid performances. Toronto's Marco Estrada worked six innings, allowing six hits and two runs with a walk and nine strikeouts.
St. Louis' Michael Wacha also lasted six innings, yielding five hits and two runs while walking one and fanning six.
NOTES: St. Louis 1B Matt Carpenter served a one-game suspension Tuesday night after his ejection from Sunday's 6-4 win in Milwaukee. Carpenter made contact with plate umpire John Tumpane, who also booted manager Mike Matheny. ... Toronto activated LHP J.P. Howell (left shoulder) from the 10-day disabled list and optioned RHP Leonel Campos to Triple-A Buffalo. Howell fanned five in two innings during a rehab stint at Class A Dunedin. ... The Blue Jays started C Russell Martin at third base, his first start there since joining the team last year and his 20th career game at third.