The ejections of Marmol and Descalso ignite a comeback, with the Cardinals hoping it signals the start of a sustained turnaround.
St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol explained that he aimed to ignite his team’s momentum when he and bench coach Daniel Descalso were ejected from Sunday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Their strategy paid off, as the last-place Cardinals (16-24) now hope this incident can mark a turning point in what has been a challenging season so far.
Trailing 3-1 in the third inning, Marmol and Descalso were ejected by home plate umpire Alan Porter after two missed calls by first-base umpire Sean Barber, which the Cardinals successfully challenged. With hitting coach Turner Ward taking over as manager for the remainder of the game, the Cardinals staged a comeback from a three-run deficit, ultimately defeating the NL Central-leading Brewers 4-3, ending a seven-game losing streak.
Marmol emphasized that the ejections were not a reflection of the umpires’ abilities but rather an attempt to shake things up amid a rough patch. The Cardinals acknowledged that the ejections provided a boost, publicly displaying the coaches’ frustrations.
The momentum shifted in the Cardinals’ favor following two successful replay challenges. The first challenge turned a fielder’s choice into an inning-ending double play, while the second challenge overturned an out call at first, transforming a potential double play into a fielder’s choice.
The Cardinals’ comeback prevented them from extending their losing streak to eight games as they prepare for a series against the Los Angeles Angels. Despite the struggles, the Cardinals remain optimistic, particularly after Sunday’s comeback victory, which saw Paul Goldschmidt break out of his hitting slump.
Goldschmidt, the 2022 NL MVP, had been struggling at the plate but showed signs of improvement with a home run and a game-tying single in Sunday’s game. Despite his recent struggles, Goldschmidt remains focused on helping the team win and is determined to perform better moving forward.
