Starting pitcher Dakota Hudson jogged to the mound for the eighth – deep into a game this deep into the season. But it wasn’t even the most-impressive Cards starting pitching performance of the day. Really, if Michael Wacha had pitched just five good innings, it could’ve compared to Hudson’s game, since the expectations for a fellow with a 5.00 ERA are smaller. But Wacha threw a quality start in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader, going seven innings, allowing two runs on three hits. He walked only two, while struck out seven. He looked … reliable? Yes, reliable.
The last time the Cardinals had back-to-back starters go seven or more innings was July 14-15.