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While stars shined bright in Arizona, a cameo was crucial to Cardinals’ rally for sweep

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While stars shined bright in Arizona, a cameo was crucial to Cardinals’ rally for sweep


PHOENIX — Throughout a memorable go to to Arizona, one for the report books and scrapbooks, the Cardinals received a recreation with their two MVP candidates in starring roles and one other with Albert Pujols as showstopper. In consecutive video games, that they had gamers surpass information as soon as owned by icons Yogi Berra and Stan Musial.

However past the highlight, the bullpen stretched, leaving it restricted, perhaps even uncovered, for the final act of a three-day collection.

Taking inventory of the arms out there on the finish of a weekend with out All-Star nearer Ryan Helsley, one reliever acknowledged if he needed to make a cameo, it might be essential.

“Each man likes to play GM and supervisor of their head and check out to determine who’s going to go in and in what state of affairs,” mentioned Chris Stratton, a veteran acquired on the commerce deadline. “I’ve gotten caught off guard earlier than in sure conditions in my profession within the bullpen. What you be taught by expertise isn’t be caught off guard. I used to be prepared for it. Our staff wanted some size, and I attempted to do the very best I may.”

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Paired with Jake Woodford for the pivotal position of carrying a one-run recreation by center innings left unattended, Stratton did all of the Cardinals wanted.

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Stratton’s scene-stealing 2⅔ scoreless innings adopted by Woodford’s 1⅓ scoreless stalled the Arizona Diamondbacks lengthy sufficient for the Cardinals to rally for a 6-4 victory Sunday at Chase Subject and full a collection sweep. The Cardinals’ seventh consecutive win was not the pulse-pounding blockbuster of Saturday’s 16-7 win. It wasn’t even a passable sequel. It was the refined brief, perhaps an indy darling. A day after 4 hits and two homers, Pujols contributed a pinch-hit single. Nolan Arenado didn’t match Saturday’s dazzling protection as a result of he didn’t even play protection Sunday. At designated hitter, he did punch the two-run, strike-single that flipped a deficit within the seventh inning for a comeback made attainable by contributions across the roster.

This wasn’t a raucous encore. It was an ensemble.

“That’s a straightforward recreation there the place you lose it 4-3, 4-2 or no matter, and also you go get on the aircraft, take two of three, and really feel OK about it,” supervisor Oliver Marmol mentioned. “However the guys had been relentless. They weren’t going to present in.”

Stated Arenado: “We’re taking part in powerful. If we lose the lead, we nonetheless struggle again. It’s nice to see these issues from us. I really feel like early within the yr, if we obtained down, it was exhausting for us to rally. Proper now, it’s not. I believe it’s as a result of we’ve confidence in ourselves that we are able to win any recreation.”

The one factor shorter for the Cardinals than starter Jose Quintana’s outing Sunday was Marmol’s presence — and, arguably, his endurance.

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Sparked by Lars Nootbaar’s first profession leadoff homer, the Cardinals struck for a 3-0 lead earlier than Arizona obtained an out. That lead began to leak when Quintana had hassle pegging the strike zone. He was not alone. The Cardinals felt home-plate umpire C.B. Bucknor had missed a number of calls that warped counts on the lefty and added to his troubles. Quintana walked two and allowed three singles within the second inning as Arizona knotted the sport, 3-3.

Within the third, the Cardinals benefited with two walks from Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly. Arenado stood on the plate and took a pitch that was off the within fringe of the plate, in keeping with replays and MLB.com’s Gameday. Bucknor referred to as the ball a strike.

Marmol referred to as that call one thing unprintable.

With a dramatic level, Bucknor tossed Marmol from the sport. With six innings to make up for in that second, Marmol charged onto the sector to broaden on his opinion.

“I didn’t like his smirk once I obtained on the market,” the Cardinals’ first-year supervisor mentioned. “After which he questioned my time within the league. And so I returned the favor and questioned his time within the league.”

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Within the backside of that inning, Arizona turned a catcher’s interference into the run that broke the tie and chased Quintana from the sport. Stone Garrett’s swing whacked Andrew Knizner’s left hand and mitt for the interference. Knizner mentioned after the sport he appeared down “to see if my hand was nonetheless there. It was.” He had a bruise, an error, after which Quintana had an escape route. He obtained a double play, however Jordan Luplow’s RBI single broke the 3-3 tie.

Quintana walked the following batter after which confronted no extra.

Within the third inning, the sport had reached the Cardinals bullpen. When the bullpen cellphone rang, Stratton presumed it might be him. That project: “Get us as deep as I may.”

He stranded the 2 runners he inherited and retired eight consecutive.

Woodford did the identical — stranding the 2 runners he inherited earlier than getting 4 consecutive outs in economical sufficient style he might begin a recreation Tuesday. Genesis Cabrera completed the seventh, breezed by the eighth, and handed a result in Giovanny Gallegos to shut for his twelfth save. The Cardinals swept a collection with out Helsley, who’s on paternity go away, throwing a pitch.

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“That is the primary time (this season) I didn’t see the identical arm out of the ‘pen,’” mentioned Arizona infielder Josh Rojas. “I didn’t see the identical arm twice out of the bullpen. I really feel like not many groups have sufficient guys. This collection was completely different. That they had guys for the matchup, and I noticed Cabrera for the primary time.”

Stated Kelly: The Cardinals “play exhausting from the primary pitch until the final pitch.”

Many of the pitches he made in between saved the Cardinals quiet. Arizona’s right-hander strung zeroes from the second by his ultimate inning, the sixth. Within the seventh inning, the Diamondbacks went to the bullpen, and right here comes that man once more. Pujols. Lower than 24 hours after a singular efficiency by a 42-year-old that put him between Musial and Hank Aaron for profession whole bases, Pujols pinch-hit within the seventh. He delivered a single that set the bases in movement for Arenado’s game-winning single.

Arenado confronted reliever Kevin Ginkel, who brings the warmth. It’s a dry warmth. In search of a low fastball, Arenado fell behind 0-2 earlier than connecting on a 99 mph fastball for a liner to proper that scored two.

“We simply discovered a technique to win,” Stratton mentioned.

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It wasn’t a win bronzed with historical past or beaming with highlights. It wasn’t one dominated by the starter or overwhelmed by the starters. It wasn’t the Cardinals at their finest.

It was, in that manner, higher.

They didn’t have to be to win.

“It simply reveals what sort of staff you will have once you try this,” Marmol mentioned. “It’s no completely different than a pitcher not having his finest stuff and nonetheless supplying you with six innings. Your potential to nonetheless discover a technique to scratch a run right here or there and completely different guys within the bullpen step up. Good groups discover a manner to try this slightly than go house simply successful a collection when you’ll be able to sweep it.”

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Arizona

Former Wisconsin quarterback Braedyn Locke to transfer to Arizona

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Former Wisconsin quarterback Braedyn Locke to transfer to Arizona


Arizona football is adding depth to its quarterback room with the addition of a power conference signal caller.

Wisconsin transfer Braedyn Locke committed to Arizona on Friday, giving the Wildcats an experienced backup at quarterback. Locke threw for 1,936 yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions as a sophomore with the Badgers.

The 6-foot, Rockwell, Texas native began the season as Wisconsin’s backup but took over starting duties when Tyler Van Dyke suffered a season-ending knee injury against Alabama.

Locke, who began his career at Mississippi State, has two years of remaining eligibility.

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Locke threw for a season-high 359 yards in Wisconsin’s 52-6 win over Purdue in October. He struggled over Wisconsin’s last five games (all losses), throwing for six touchdowns and five interceptions and hovering around 50 percent completion rate.

Locke is not much of a runner, as he recorded just 4 total rushing yards on the season.

Locke joins Arizona knowing he’ll be in a backup role in 2025 behind returning quarterback Noah Fifita. He comes the 17th player to transfer to Arizona this offseason including the 10th on offense.



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Miami Lands Arizona Cornerback From the Transfer Portal

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Miami Lands Arizona Cornerback From the Transfer Portal


Miami continued to address a major roster need on Thursday as former Arizona cornerback Emmanuel Karnely announced his commitment to the Hurricanes over Ole Miss and Michigan. He visited Miami during the first weekend of the transfer portal after spending time in Oxford, and most recently visiting Ann Arbor. 

The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder is considered the No. 6 cornerback and No. 68 overall player in the 247Sports Transfer Portal Rankings.

Karnley, a member of the 2023 recruiting class, has spent the last two seasons at Arizona. This past season, the redshirt freshman became a six-game starter for the Wildcats, only allowing 22 catches on 43 targets for 288 yards with four touchdowns allowed and five pass breakups.

The Canes are also targeting the other side of the room in Tacario Davis which would be great for the growing room. The freshman All-American OJ Frederique Jr. will also still be suiting up for the Canes next season. The depth and talent in the room will continue to grow and perform as Mario Cristobal continues to hit in the portal.

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Karnely has three more years of eligibility. Karnley has become the fifth blue-chip transfer addition so far this portal season.

READ MORE FROM MIAMI HURRICANES ON SI:

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Follow all social media platforms to stay up to date with everything Miami Hurricanes- TwitterFacebookInstagramYoutube, and BlueSky.





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Post-holiday rush has Arizona shoppers returning gifts, spending holiday cash

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Post-holiday rush has Arizona shoppers returning gifts, spending holiday cash


PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Christmas is over, but the stores and malls are busy one day later—shoppers either returning gifts that weren’t quite right or spending some of that holiday cash.

“A lot of the stores we went to, you had to wait in lines just to get from one store to the other,” said Jeannie Mac. “It was pretty busy.”

When you think of holiday shopping, you often think of items flying off the shelves.

“There are a lot of discounts at target, 50% off all decorations. You’d be surprised. The shelves are a little empty,” said shopper Joseph Caruana.

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But the day after Christmas, many of those items end up back in-store. This year, returns are expected to add up to 17% of all merchandise sales, according to a recent report by the National Retail Federation. It’s about $890 billion in returned unneeded or unwanted gifts.

However, not everyone was there for returns or exchanges.

“Everyone enjoyed the presents, so didn’t have to return anything, thankfully,” said Max Miely.

Many people Arizona’s Family spoke with were mainly there looking to spend their holiday money, including Jenn Neild, who was visiting from Canada.

“We’re just looking around for some post Christmas deals, Boxing Day deals,” she said.

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Boxing Day is traditionally a holiday similar to Black Friday, celebrated in the U.K. and Canada.

It was a good opportunity for shoppers who came out ready to use their holiday gift cards or, in other cases, to claim their Christmas gifts.

“We just went to go get my cousins ear pierced for her Christmas present and we’re going to be shopping for pajamas and different things,” said Morgan Uperesa, another shopper.

Because Dec. 26 and Dec. 27 are historically the busiest days for returns, the Better Business Bureau advises you to bring any receipts to the store.

If you don’t have one, they say you should know the rules on returns without it.

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