Gibson
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Brandon Lowe hit a two-run homer and former Cardinal Dylan Carlson drove in two runs to help the Tampa Bay Rays avoid a series sweep by beating the St. Louis Cardinals 6-4 on Thursday night.
Greenfield’s Kyle Gibson got the start for the Cardinals, but did not receive the decision.
He left the game after six innings with the Cardinals lead 4-2.
Gibson pitched six innings, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk. He had six strikeouts and threw 91 pitches.
Lowe has hit seven home runs, nine doubles and has 18 RBIs in his last 26 games. He has driven in a run in five consecutive games, tying a career high.
“You have to understand it’s a very difficult game at times,” Lowe said. “It’s a very fun game at other times. Never think you know too much or that you’ve got it figured out.”
Ben Rortvedt added three hits for the Rays.
Nolan Arenado drove in a run, scored twice and had three hits for St. Louis. Arenado is 12 for 30 in August with three doubles and six RBIs. Paul Goldschmidt drove in two runs for the Cardinals.
“This is a frustrating one. I feel like we played a pretty clean game,” St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol said. “We took some really good at-bats, especially giving up two in the first and then coming right back. Sometimes baseball just happens.”
Richard Lovelady (3-4) pitched one inning for the win and Pete Fairbanks, a St. Louis native who pitched at Missouri, pitched the ninth for his 22nd save in 24 opportunities.
“I treated it like it’s any other place,” Fairbanks said about pitching at Busch Stadium where he threw in high school and college. “I was thinking to myself if I’m getting in this game we’ve got to score five runs and then Lowe hits a pop. So, I’ll take it. I think I would have been frustrated if I hadn’t gotten to pitch here. So, it’s nice to put an ‘S’ in the record book.”
JoJo Romero (5-2) took the loss.
Shane Baz threw 4 1/3 innings giving up four runs on six hits and two walks.
Gibson remained 7-4 on the season. Thursday’s outing of giving up just two runs in six innings dropped is ERA under 4 at 3.99.
His next scheduled start is slated for Wednesday at Cincinnati. The Reds are slated to start Carson Spiers (4-3, 3.59). Game time is 6:40 p.m.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
