ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jason Heyward shook off a critical error with a game-tying homer. Peter Bourjos’ legs did the rest to ensure a St. Louis Cardinals sweep.
Heyward homered to tie it leading off the ninth inning and Bourjos’ slide at the plate upended catcher Jordan Pacheco resulting in a throwing error that allowed the winning run to score in a 4-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night.
“I was going in hard, I had no intention of trying to hurt anybody,” Bourjos said. “I was trying to make it tough for them to turn a double play.”
Mark Trumbo homered for Arizona, which has lost nine of its last 10 against the Cardinals.
The Diamondbacks have re-tooled with former Cardinals Tony La Russa as chief baseball officer, pitching consultant Dave Duncan and first base coach Dave McKay.
Pacheco replaced Tuffy Gosewisch, who jammed his left knee on a groundout in the sixth.
Third baseman Yasmany Tomas threw home for a force out on Jhonny Peralta’s grounder against Brad Ziegler (0-1) and Pacheco tried for a double play but threw well above first baseman Paul Goldschmidt’s head after Bourjos’ foot made contact with his back leg.
Pacheco had no issue with the play.
“I tried to get out of there as quick as I could,” he said. “He’s a fast guy. That’s what happens when you have speed on the bases.
“I wish I could say something about it, but it was a good slide.”
Nick Ahmed put the Diamondbacks ahead in the sixth scoring from first when Heyward booted the ball on pinch hitter David Peralta’s RBI single to right.
Heyward popped out to short with the bases loaded and one out in the fourth.
“This game’s going to beat you up at times but you’ve got to put it past you,” Heyward said. “It’s not about you, it’s about your team.
“Thank goodness I was able to tie us up.”