KANSAS CITY—Three regulars, Yadier Molina, Dylan Carlson and Paul DeJong, were missing from the Cardinals’ lineup on Sunday. Their starting pitcher was lefthander J.A. Happ, who was acquired just after he allowed nine runs in three innings to Detroit.
But this isn’t the same J.A. Happ. Nor is it the same Cardinals team that wallowed at or near .500 for two months.
Happ, obtained from Minnesota for John Gant, has given up just three runs and 11 hits over 16 2/3 innings in three starts. By beating Kansas City 7-2, Happ, who worked 5 2/3 scoreless innings, won both the first and final games of an historic six-game trip for the Cardinals.