Cardinals manager Mike Matheny took a chance in the bottom of the sixth on Monday night. Pitcher Mike Leake was cruising along, striking out 11 in the first six innings, and had thrown only 88 pitches. But with the pitcher's spot coming up to the plate and runners on first and second, Matheny decided to lift him for a pinch hitter.
Considering the way the Cardinals bullpen has played lately, it was a risky move, trusting them to get nine outs in what at the time was a one-run game. But pinch hitter Matt Adams doubled in two runs and that opened the floodgates for the Cardinals, who scored four in the sixth and three in the seventh on their way to a 10-2 win over the Padres.