Despite all the late-inning switchbacks and swings for history, the groundballs that slipped through and the broken bats that chipped in, the Cardinals’ opening day deflated quickly on a single 103-mph wild pitch.
The Cardinals shielded a one-run lead from Toronto’s persistent offense in the eighth inning Thursday when, with two runners on, Jordan Hicks spiked a sinker that crashed into catcher Willson Contreras’ right knee.
“It was a loud pop,” third baseman Nolan Arenado said.
The ball ricocheted toward first for a wild pitch that allowed two Blue Jays to move into scoring position. Contreras gave chase but soon bent over in pain, unable to continue due to a deep contusion in his right knee.