At some point Monday night, probably at the same moment Ronald Acuna Jr.’s three-run homer skimmed over the wall, the game shifted for the Cardinals from wanting to get more innings from Jake Woodford to needing more innings from Jake Woodford.
Acuna’s home run, the third in two innings against the Cardinals’ right-hander, widened Atlanta’s lead to five runs before Woodford had five outs.
He’d have to get more because the rotation, thus far, hasn’t provided enough.
“When you start looking at who you want to use in that game if you’re down five, six runs, Woody has got to be able to keep going, and thankfully he was able to figure something out and give us a couple of more innings there,” manager Oliver Marmol said.