Jordan Walker responds to the Cardinals’ annihilation of the Yankees.
The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the New York Yankees 14-7 on Sunday, thanks to right fielder Jordan Walker’s historic five-hit day, the first of his young career. Walker should be extremely pleased after two demotions to the minors, especially given it came in the form of a resounding triumph. This up-and-down season for the second-year fielder saw his team going 1-5, but manager Oliver Marmol never gave up on Walker.
This faith paid off against the Yankees, as the Cardinals had their most productive offensive game of the season. After the game, the Cardinals awarded Jordan Walker with two game balls to commemorate his historic performance, which made him the youngest Cardinal to record five hits in a game since MLB Hall of Famer Roger Hornsby in 1916.
“When I go back and see [memorabilia], it reminds me of how much fun this game is. Playing it provides me joy, which is sometimes difficult to find. But, at the end of the day, I enjoy playing the game, and events like these help me remember that,” Walker explained.
Is this the Cardinals’ best win this year?
The Cardinals are hoping that this win would spark a turnaround for Jordan Walker, a former top prospect who has battled for much of the season. Walker had only hit.155 in his first 20 games, so the organization demoted him to Triple-A Memphis.
After that, the team brought him back up, but he struggled again in mid-August, going 1-11 in four games. The organization then demoted him again to allow him to work out any kinks, which he appears to have done on Sunday against the Yankees. Likewise, since his comeback, the team has assured him that he will play in every game, which has boosted his confidence.
“I think five-hit days are sick and lovely to have. I’m always confident in my hitting ability. “But I’ll definitely take this one,” he continued.
Following Jordan Walker’s five-hit game, the Cardinals may have rediscovered the power production they needed for much of the season, helping them return to.500 for the first time in nearly three weeks. Their 69-68 record places them third in the National League Central, trailing the Milwaukee Brewers (80-57) and the Chicago Cubs (71-66). While their odds of entering the playoffs are poor, they remain hopeful.
This current run has also resulted in wins over winning teams, including the Dodgers, Brewers, Twins, Padres, and Yankees. They will next play three more games against the Milwaukee Brewers and three against the Seattle Mariners. After dismissing outfielder Tommy Pham, the Cardinals may start depending on their younger guys to carry them to the playoffs.
