​The numbers would suggest that opting for left-handed pitcher
Parker Mushinski against JJ Wetherholt in Sunday’s eighth inning was the right
move to make, and that’s just what Rockies’ manager Warren Schaeffer opted to
do in a tied game.However, the Cardinals’ standout rookie not only has a way
with making conventional wisdom fall flat at times, but he also possesses a
keen flair for the dramatic that showed itself late Sunday afternoon.The left-handed-hitting Wetherholt drilled the first pitch
he saw from Mushinski off the wall in center field for a two-run double that propelled
the Cardinals to a 7-4 victory over the Rockies in the rubber game of the
three-game series.Wetherholt, 23 and a leading candidate to win the National
League’s Rookie of the Year award, came into the at bat hitting just .237 with
a .687 OPS against left-handed pitching – down from the .251 and .756 against righties.
However, he smashed a 103.7 mph missile off the wall to score Masyn Winn and
Nathan Church, who had singled to open the inning and moved up on a perfect
sacrifice by Jose Fermin.“I’m just trying to get on a good pitch early and I just
told myself to stay calm and not try to do too much, which is big in those
situations,” said Wetherholt, who was two for three with two runs scored and
two driven in. “I got a pitch over the plate and put a good swing on it.”  Wetherholt’s clutch hit allowed the Cardinals to win a game
they led 4-1 before blowing the lead. The victory also allowed the Cards to
even their record at 59-59. After losing their first six series following the break
for the MLB All-Star Game, the Cardinals have responded by winning series against
the Yankees and Rockies.Wetherholt, who signed an eight-year contract extension
that could be worth as much as $132 million earlier in the season, didn’t mind
being in a pressure-packed situation in a game the Cardinals desperately needed
to win to stay in the chase for a Wild Card berth.“I think everybody does (want that pressure) as a player,” said
Wetherholt, who came around to score on Ivan Herrera’s fourth hit of the game. “You
always want to be the guy to win it, or you can wear it if you don’t (win the
game). Being in that situation is always fun. I haven’t been able to come
through the past couple of times, but I was able to come through today.”  Up next for the Cardinals are the Phillies, one of the
teams that St. Louis is chasing for one of the National League’s Wild Card slots.
Philadelphia, which avoided a three-game sweep against the Blue Jays by winning in 12 innings on Sunday,
plays in St. Louis over the next three nights. Andrew Painter, All-Star starter Cristopher
Sanchez and Zack Wheeler will face off against Cardinals’ hurlers Hunter
Dobbins, Andre Pallante and Kyle Leahy in the three-game series.The two teams then face off again in Philadelphia from Aug.
21-23.While the Cubs are comfortably positioned in the
Wild Card chase, the Dbacks, Phillies