On the night Yadier Molina collected his 2,000th career hit, the next generation in the form of Dylan Carlson also stepped up for the Cardinals in their playoff push.
Two days after recording his first three-hit game in the Majors, the top St. Louis prospect posted another multi-hit game with
On the night Yadier Molina collected his 2,000th career hit, the next generation in the form of Dylan Carlson also stepped up for the Cardinals in their playoff push.
Two days after recording his first three-hit game in the Majors, the top St. Louis prospect posted another multi-hit game with a homer, a double and three RBIs to lead the Cardinals to a 4-2 victory over the Brewers on Thursday night at Busch Stadium.
After a bit of a slow start to his big league career, Carlson turned a corner for St. Louis over the past week. During the seven-game stretch, the 21-year-old has batted .333 with two homers and nine RBIs. He has three multi-hit games this month and four overall.
“It’s special even to just be around someone like [Molina] every day,” Carlson told reporters after the game “It’s incredible. And to see him accomplish the things he’s accomplished and to be a part of moments like this, it’s just really special.”
Facing right-hander Corbin Burnes in the fourth inning Thursday, Carlson turned around an 89-mph cutter and sent a towering drive to right field just inside the foul pole for a two-run dinger.
In the sixth, the 33rd pick of the 2016 Draft worked the count full against righty Corey Knebel and ripped a two-bagger into center that plated Dexter Fowler with the Cardinals' fourth run.
Carlson struck out against righty Ray Black in the eighth.
The 21-year-old, who hadn't driven in three runs in a game in August, has done it twice in the span of six days. He's hitting .202, the highest mark he's had to date in the Majors.
Carlson became an All-Star Futures Game representative, an MiLB.Com Organization All-Star and the MiLBY Breakout Prospect during a remarkable 2019 campaign. Between Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis, he belted 26 homers and posted a .542 slugging percentage. So far this September, he's notched six extra-base hits while compiling a .613 slugging percentage.
No. 23 Brewers prospect Tyrone Taylor drove in Milwaukee's lone run of the game on a single in the fourth.
In other action:
Mets 3, Nationals 2
David Peterson capped off his rookie season in style. New York's No. 12 prospect tossed a career-high seven innings, allowing a run on four hits and a walk. He fanned four en route to his team-leading sixth win of the year. He lowered his ERA to 3.44 and his WHIP to 1.21. Third-ranked Andrés Giménez entered as a pinch-runner in the eighth and stole his eighth base. He recorded two assists at second base in the ninth, including the last out. Top Nationals prospect Luis Garcia ended the night 0-for-4. Box score
Pirates 7, Cubs 0
Second-ranked Pittsburgh prospect Ke'Bryan Hayes extended his hitting streak to five games on a 1-for-4 night. Hitless into the seventh, the third baseman ripped a single up the middle against righty Duane Underwood Jr. Three batters later, Hayes scored on a sacrifice fly by Gregory Polanco. Through 73 at-bats, the 23-year-old has averaged .329 with a .998 OPS. Over the five-game streak, Hayes has gone 8-for-19 with two homers. Box score
Blue Jays 4, Yankees 1
Toronto’s sixth-ranked prospect Alejandro Kirk drove in a pair of runs with a double down the line in left in the sixth. The backstop has six hits over his last three games, half of them for extra bases. Top Blue Jays prospect Nate Pearson was activated off the injured list Thursday, but did not play. Box score
Orioles 13, Red Sox 1
Baltimore’s fifth-ranked prospect Ryan Mountcastle lined an RBI single into center in the eighth and is batting .325/.378/.500 with 22 RBIs over 32 games this year. Boston’s No. 3 prospect Bobby Dalbec worked a seven-pitch walk in the second off righty Alex Cobb and added a single late. The 25-year-old has six hits in his last five games. Box score
Astros 12, Rangers 4
In his final start as a prospect for Houston, fourth-ranked Cristian Javier allowed three runs on five hits and a walk while fanning six over 5 2/3 frames. The righty sports a 3.48 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP with a .188 average against this season. No. 11 prospect Brandon Bielak worked around a hit in a scoreless frame of relief while 16th-ranked Luis Garcia yielded a run on a pair of hits with a punchout over 1 1/3 innings. Texas’ third-ranked prospect Leody Taveras doubled, singled and scored in his second straight multi-hit performance. No. 10 Sherten Apostel exited the game in the second with back spasms. Box score
Royals 8, Tigers 7
Sixth-ranked Kansas City prospect Kris Bubic started, but did not factor into the decision after being tagged for four runs on eight hits and three walks while fanning five over 4 2/3 frames. Detroit’s sixth-ranked prospect Isaac Paredes extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a knock. He reached base again with a walk. The 21-year-old has 12 hits over his last 10 contests. No. 7 prospect Daz Cameron collected a hit for the third straight game with a single in the sixth and stole his first big league bag later in the frame. Box score
Marlins 4, Braves 2
It was a hard-luck loss for Ian Anderson , who kept Miami off the board for 5 2/3 innings before yielding three unearned runs. Atlanta's No. 3 prospect allowed seven hits and fanned six without giving up a free pass. With the start, Anderson lowered his ERA from 2.36 to 1.95 in his last regular-season start. No. 10 Marlins prospect Monte Harrison entered as a pinch-runner in the eighth and stole his sixth base. Box score
Rockies 5, Giants 4
Joey Bart delivered a hit for his third straight game on a 1-for-3 night. The top San Francisco prospect led off the second with a single to center and scored later in the inning on a wild pitch. In September, the backstop is hitting .290/.323/.387 through 62 at-bats. Over a three-game hitting streak, Bart has four knocks and three extra-base hits. Box score
