The save, Hicks’ first of the season, came after an eighth-inning entrance specifically to face Machado. The Padres’ third baseman and perennial All-Star was the tying run at the plate with two outs. Lefty Andrew Miller had just retired Hosmer, a lefthanded hitter, and the matchup manager Mike Shildt sought was Machado vs. Hicks, Round 1. Hicks had not yet appeared in a home game because games had cratered before the Cardinals could get him a lead. The preference is to get Hicks into late-inning spots against the middle of the opponent’s lineup and let his use as closer develop “organically,” the Cardinals say.
After getting a whiff of Hicks' slider, Machado ends 'epic' duel with a nod to Cards closer
