The Milwaukee Brewers, just like last year, have been the best team in the NL Central division by a comfortable margin this season.
However, the St. Louis Cardinals, at 20-17, are eager to contend again after surprisingly winning a Wild Card berth last year.
They are second in the division and will be a pesky opponent all year.
Part of their success can be attributed to the hitting prowess of their first baseman, Paul Goldschmidt.
The 34-year-old slugger is having quite the season, and is a sure bet to get on base at least once per game.
That, at least, has been the case for the last 26 games, according to The Athletic’s Katie Woo.
“Paul Goldschmidt is home run trottin’ around the bases again. We’re all tied up. 12-game hit streak/ 26-game on-base streak for Goldy,” she tweeted.
Paul Goldschmidt is home run trottin' around the bases again. We're all tied up.
12-game hit streak/ 26-game on-base streak for Goldy. #STLCards
— Katie Woo (@katiejwoo) May 19, 2022
An Incredible Afternoon At The Plate
Goldschmidt hit a game-tying home run in the third inning, one that made the score 2-2 at the time.
Throughout the game, we have been able to see Goldy’s run-production prowess: he hit a run-scoring double in the top of the fifth frame, and a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh.
All of those hits scored important runs, but at the moment of writing this article, the New York Mets had re-taken the lead 5-4, with Edwin Diaz pitching in the ninth frame.
After his productive afternoon, Goldschmidt is hitting .324/.394/.549 with six home runs, 26 RBI, and an impressive .943 OPS.
He is getting up there in age, but is showing no signs of slowing down at the plate.
If the Cards are going to mount a similar challenge for the postseason this year, they are going to need Goldy to keep producing like this.
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