Many surely thought we had seen the last of Matt Holliday when he hit a pinch homer Friday night in his first at-bat since Aug. 11 and, after it was announced his 2017 contract option wasn’t being picked up.
But there he was again Saturday at Busch Stadium, with the Cardinals, desperate to remain in the wild-card race, in the midst of a sixth-inning rally. Holliday was summoned with runners at first and third and one out, the Cardinals trailing Pittsburgh 3-1 and with hard-throwing righthander Juan Nicasio on the mound.
Holliday, who hadn't had a pinch-hit run batted in since he came to the majors in 2004, got his second in two games when he served a single to right to make it 3-2 and earn him a second standing ovation, the first after he had been introduced as the pinch hitter.