ST. LOUIS _ After starting off the 2017 season with a 3-9 record, the Cardinals have returned to .500.
A walk-off grand slam capped off the matinee, and a 6-4 win in Thursday's night game boosted the Cardinals to a doubleheader sweep and series win over the Toronto Blue Jays. Now winners of 8 of their last 10 games, the Cardinals enter their weekend series with the Cincinnati Reds at 11-11.
Unlike the afternoon contest, when they struggled against Blue Jays starter Mat Latos, the Cardinals jumped all over the nightcap's starting pitcher, right-hander Casey Lawrence. After scoring three in the first, the Cardinals tacked on a run in the second, third and fourth innings each to go up 6-0.
Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright had been cruising up until that point, but ran into trouble in the fifth inning. Wainwright allowed four extra-base hits in the frame, including a three-run homer to first baseman Kendrys Morales.
Wainwright didn't allow another run for the rest of his outing, though. He finished with 61/3 innings having given up four runs (all earned) on nine hits while walking one and striking out four.
The Cardinals had a chance to increase their lead in the bottom of the eighth when Dexter Fowler reached third and Greg Garcia reached second with just one out. However, Fowler was thrown out at home on a ground ball fielder's choice and Garcia was stranded when Randal Grichuk popped out to shortstop Ryan Goins.
Trevor Rosenthal came on in the ninth for the save, as regular closer Seung-Hwan Oh pitched in Thursday's afternoon game. Rosenthal retired the Blue Jays in order for his second save of the season.
