2017 Speedway Grand Prix of Slovenia, Results
The Grand Prix was won by Martin Vaculík, who beat Fredrik Lindgren, Patryk Dudek and Jason Doyle in the final. Emil Sayfutdinov had initially top scored on the night, but was eliminated in the semi-finals.


2017 Speedway Grand Prix of Slovenia, Results, Heat details
e: retired or mechanical failure • m: exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t: exclusion for touching the tapes • x: other exclusion • f: fellns: non-starter • nc: non-classifySemi-finals: Heat 21: Riders placed 1st, 4th, 6th & 7th in the intermediate classification (after 20 heats)Heat 22: Riders placed 2nd, 3rd, 5th & 8th in the intermediate classification (after 20 heats)Big Final (heat 23): The first and second placed riders in each of the Semi-Finals


2017 Speedway Grand Prix of Sweden
The 2017 Teng Tools Swedish FIM Speedway Grand Prix was the seventh race of the 2017 Speedway Grand Prix season. It took place on August 12 at the G&B Stadium in Målilla, Sweden.


2017 Speedway Grand Prix of Sweden, Riders
First reserve Peter Kildemand replaced Nicki Pedersen and second reserve Martin Smolinski replaced Greg Hancock. The Speedway Grand Prix Commission also nominated Linus Sundström as the wild card, and Kim Nilsson and Joel Kling both as Track Reserves.


2017 Speedway Grand Prix of Sweden, Results
The Grand Prix was won by Poland's Bartosz Zmarzlik, who beat Antonio Lindbäck, Fredrik Lindgren and Maciej Janowski in the final. Lindbäck and Lindgren had top scored during the qualifying heats and then won each of the semi-finals, however the former was passed by Zmarzlik on the final bend of the decider. Janowkski took the lead in the overall standings after finishing fourth, while title rivals Jason Doyle and Patryk Dudek both failed to make the semi-finals.


2017 Speedway Grand Prix of Sweden, Results, Heat details
e: retired or mechanical failure • m: exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t: exclusion for touching the tapes • x: other exclusion • f: fellns: non-starter • nc: non-classifySemi-finals: Heat 21: Riders placed 1st, 4th, 6th & 7th in the intermediate classification (after 20 heats)Heat 22: Riders placed 2nd, 3rd, 5th & 8th in the intermediate classification (after 20 heats)Big Final (heat 23): The first and second placed riders in each of the Semi-Finals


2017 Speedway World Cup
The 2017 Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup (SWC) was the seventeenth and the last FIM Speedway World Cup, the annual international speedway world championship tournament. It took place between 1 July and 8 July 2017 and involved nine national teams. Poland successfully defended their 2016 title. The competition was replaced by the Speedway of Nations.


2017 Speedway World Cup Event 1
Event One of the 2017 Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup was the opening race of the 2017 edition of the Speedway World Cup. It was staged on July 1 at the Adrian Flux Arena in King's Lynn, Great Britain and was won by Great Britain  from Australia, United States, and the Czech Republic. As a result, Great Britain progressed directly to the 2017 Speedway World Cup Final, while Australia and the United States progressed to the 2017 Speedway World Cup Race-off. The Czech Republic were eliminated.


2017 Speedway World Cup Event 1
Craig Cook led Great Britain to the final by scoring 14 points, while Steve Worrall, Chris Harris and Robert Lambert all scored 13 points each. Australia were hampered by the loss of Jason Doyle, who was injured and unable to compete, however Chris Holder was the star of the meeting scoring 19 points.


2017 Speedway World Cup Event 2
Event Two of the 2017 Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup was the second race of the 2017 edition of the Speedway World Cup. It was staged on July 4 at the Stena Arena in Västervik, Sweden and was won by Sweden from Russia, Latvia, and Denmark. As a result, Sweden progressed directly to the 2017 Speedway World Cup Final, while Russia and Latvia progressed to the 2017 Speedway World Cup Race-off. Denmark were eliminated.


2017 Speedway World Cup Event 2
Latvia and Denmark initially tied on 28 points after the 20 qualifying heats, however Andžejs Ļebedevs beat Niels-Kristian Iversen in a run-off to secure the Latvians place in the race-off. It was the first time since the Speedway World Cup was introduced in 2001 that Denmark had been eliminated at this stage.


2017 Speedway World Cup Event 2
Antonio Lindbäck and Fredrik Lindgren top scored for Sweden with 11 and 10 points respectively, while Grigory Laguta led Russia with a 12-point haul.


2017 Speedway World Cup Final
The 2017 Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup Final was the last and final race of the 2017 edition of the Speedway World Cup. It was staged on July 8 at the Alfred Smoczyk Stadium in Leszno, Poland,. It was won by Poland, the eighth time they had done so since the World Cup was launched in 2001. They beat Sweden by eight points, while Russia finished third with Great Britain in fourth.


2017 Speedway World Cup Final
Captain Maciej Janowski was top scorer for Poland, with teammates Bartosz Zmarzlik, Piotr Pawlicki Jr. and Patryk Dudek also all scoring double figures. Antonio Lindbäck lead Sweden to second place, scoring 20 points.


2017 Speedway World Cup Race-off
The 2017 Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup Race Off was the third race of the 2017 edition of the Speedway World Cup. It was run on July 7 at the Alfred Smoczyk Stadium in Leszno, Poland and was won by Russia from Australia, Latvia and the United States. As a result, Russia progressed to the 2017 Speedway World Cup Final, where they will join defending champions and hosts Poland, Event One winners Great Britain and Event Two winners Sweden. Australia finished second, but were eliminated from the competition along with Latvia and the United States.


2017 Speedway World Cup Race-off
Emil Sayfutdinov led Russia to victory with a 15-point maximum, and he was well supported by Gleb Chugunov, Andrey Kudryashov and Vadim Tarasenko. The Russian team still made the final without Grigory Laguta, who was suspended in the build-up to the event after failing a doping test. Jason Doyle top scored with 12 points for Australia, while Andžejs Ļebedevs was the star for Latvia with 18 points.


2017 Spengler Cup
The 91st Spengler Cup was a men's ice hockey competition being held in Davos, Switzerland between 26 and 31 December 2017. All matches were being played at HC Davos's home known as Vaillant Arena.


2017 Spengler Cup
Six competing teams were split into two groups of three (in the round-robin series). The two groups, named Torriani and Cattini, are named after legendary Swiss hockey players Richard 'Bibi' Torriani and the Cattini brothers, Hans and Ferdinand.


2017 Spengler Cup, Teams participating
The list of teams that are participating in the tournament are as listed.


2017 Spengler Cup, Match officials
The officials who are named to the tournament are as listed.


2017 Spielberg Formula 2 round
The 2017 Red Bull Ring FIA Formula 2 round was a pair of motor races held on 8 and 9 July 2017 at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Styria, Austria as part of the FIA Formula 2 Championship. It was the fifth round of the 2017 FIA Formula 2 Championship and was run in support of the 2017 Austrian Grand Prix.


2017 Split local elections
The 2017 Split local elections were held on 21 May and 4 June 2017 for the Mayor of Split and members of the Split city council. Ivo Baldasar, the 71st mayor who served from 2013 to 2017 ran for re-election to a second four-year term, ultimately finishing in 9th place with 0.80% of the vote in the first round.


2017 Split local elections
As no candidate won an absolute majority of the vote in the first round, a second round of elections was held on 4 June 2017 between the two highest-ranked candidates in terms of popular vote: Željko Kerum of the Croatian Civic Party, who was previously the 70th Mayor of Split from 2009 to 2013, and Andro Krstulović Opara of the Croatian Democratic Union. Krstulović Opara narrowly won the run-off taking 46.2% of the votes against 44.3% for Kerum. Turnout was 45.5% in the first round and 38.1% in the second round.


2017 Split local elections
This was the third direct election for the mayor of Split (simultaneously held with elections for all other county prefects and mayors in Croatia) since the popular vote method was introduced in 2009, as previously those officials had been elected by their county or city assemblies and councils.


2017 Split local elections, Mayoral election
The percentages of votes from each candidate are calculated from number of valid votersThe percentages of valid and invalid votes are calculated from the turnout numberThe turnout percentage is calculated from the number of expected voters


2017 Split local elections, Council election
The percentages of votes from each list are calculated from number of valid votersThe percentages of valid and invalid votes are calculated from the turnout numberThe turnout percentage is calculated from the number of expected voters


2017 Spokane Empire season
The 2017 Spokane Empire season was the second season for the professional indoor football franchise in the Indoor Football League (IFL). The Empire were one of ten teams that competed in the IFL for the 2017 season and were members of the Intense Conference.


2017 Spokane Empire season
Led by head coach Adam Shackleford, the Empire played their home games at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane, Washington. After the season, the team ceased operations.


2017 Spokane Empire season, Roster
Rookies in italics updated June 14, 201726 Active, 10 Inactive


2017 Sport Club Corinthians Paulista season
The 2017 season was the 108th season in the history of Sport Club Corinthians Paulista.


2017 Sport Club Corinthians Paulista season, Background, Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2017 Sport Club Corinthians Paulista season, Background, Managerial changes
On December 15, four days after the 2016 season ended, it was announced that Oswaldo de Oliveira was fired from the club. A week later, assistant manager Fábio Carille was announced as full-time manager for this season.


2017 Sport Club Corinthians Paulista season, Campeonato Paulista
For the 2017 Campeonato Paulista, the 16 teams are divided in four groups of 4 teams (A, B, C, D). They will face all teams, except those that are in their own group, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the quarterfinals. The two overall worst teams will be relegated.


2017 Sport11 Ladies Open
The 2017 Sport11 Ladies Open was a professional tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the second edition of the tournament and was part of the 2017 ITF Women's Circuit. It took place in Budapest, Hungary, on 10–16 July 2017.


2017 Sport11 Ladies Open, Singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following players received a wildcard into the singles main draw:


2017 Sport11 Ladies Open, Singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following player received entry by using a protected ranking:


2017 Sport11 Ladies Open – Doubles
Cindy Burger and Arantxa Rus were the defending champions, but both players chose not to participate.


2017 Sport11 Ladies Open – Doubles
Mariana Duque and María Irigoyen won the title, defeating Aleksandra Krunić and Nina Stojanović in the final, 7–6(7–3), 7–5.


2017 Sport11 Ladies Open – Singles
Irina Khromacheva was the defending champion, but lost in the quarterfinals to Jana Čepelová.


2017 Sport11 Ladies Open – Singles
Čepelová won the title, defeating Danka Kovinić in the final, 6–4, 6–3.


2017 SportPesa Super Cup
The SportPesa Super Cup is an association football competition that took place in June 2017 in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.


2017 SportPesa Super Cup, Overview
The 2017 SportPesa Super Cup was the inaugural edition of an eight-team knockout tournament featuring four teams each from Kenya and Tanzania created and sponsored by bookmakers SportPesa.


2017 SportPesa Super Cup, Overview
SportsPesa sponsored six of the participating teams, Gor Mahia FC, AFC Leopards SC and Nakuru AllStars FC from Kenya and Yanga SC, Simba SC and Singida United FC from Tanzania. Tusker FC (Kenya) and Jang’ombe Boys SC (Zanzibar) were selected to join them in the competition.


2017 SportPesa Super Cup, Overview
The tournament started at the quarterfinal stage with penalties separating the teams in case of a draw at regulation time. The quarter final draw pit Leopards vs Singida, Yanga vs Tusker, Gor vs Jang'ombe and Simba vs AllStars.


2017 SportPesa Super Cup, Overview, Everton FC
The winner of the 2017 SportPesa Super Cup also got a chance to play against the English Premier League giants, Everton FC, on 13 July 2017. During Everton's first visit to East Africa, they played tournament winner Gor Mahia as part of their agreement with bookmaker SportPesa to develop football in East Africa.


2017 Sporting Kansas City season
The 2017 Sporting Kansas City season was the twenty-second season of the team's existence in Major League Soccer and the seventh year played under the Sporting Kansas City moniker.


2017 Sporting Kansas City season, Current roster
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Squad correct as of September 12, 2017.


2017 Sporting Kansas City season, Player Movement, In
Per Major League Soccer and club policies terms of the deals do not get disclosed.


2017 Sporting Kansas City season, Player Movement, Loans
Per Major League Soccer and club policies terms of the deals do not get disclosed.


2017 Spring European League of Legends Championship Series
The 2017 Spring European League of Legends Championship Series split (2017 Spring EU LCS) is the fifth season and ninth split of the European League of Legends Championship Series, (EU LCS) the highest level of professional League of Legends play in Europe. It was won by G2 Esports, with a roster of Expect, Trick, PerkZ, Zven, and Mithy and was their third EU LCS Champions title. Most games were being played at Studio K/L in Adlershof, Berlin, Germany. The finals were held at the Barclaycard Arena in Hamburg, Germany.


2017 Spring European League of Legends Championship Series, Summer Promotion Tournament
In the 2017 EU LCS Summer Promotion Tournament, four teams competed in a double elimination bracket. The two winners of qualifying round matches advanced to the Summer Season. Teams eliminated from the bracket qualify for the EUCS Summer Season.


2017 Spring UPSL season
The 2017 Spring United Premier Soccer League season was the 8th season of the UPSL.


2017 Spring UPSL season, National playoffs
The national playoffs were played at Silverlakes Sports Complex in Norco, CA.


2017 Springfield Lasers season
The 2017 Springfield Lasers season will be the 22nd season of the franchise in World TeamTennis (WTT).


2017 Springfield Lasers season, Season recap, Drafts, Marquee Player Draft
The Lasers had the second overall pick at the 2017 WTT Marquee Player Draft on February 16. They traded the pick along with other undisclosed consideration to the New York Empire for the first overall selection with which the Lasers drafted top-ranked American Jack Sock. In doing so, the Lasers left John Isner unprotected. He was chosen by the Empire with the first pick in the second round. The Empire selected Eugenie Bouchard with the pick they acquired from the Lasers in the trade. The Lasers passed on making any selections in the second and third rounds of the draft.


2017 SprintX GT Championship Series
The 2017 SprintX GT Championship Series was the second season of the SprintX GT Championship Series. Dion von Moltke was the defending champion in the highest class, the Pro class in GT. It was the first season sanctioned by the United States Auto Club, after being under Sports Car Club of America sanctioning last year.


2017 SprintX GT Championship Series, Schedule
The calendar was revealed on 13 October 2016. The season comprised five rounds, all of which are headliners. Laguna Seca did not return on the schedule. Virginia, Lime Rock and Circuit of the Americas made their first appearance on the SprintX schedule.


2017 SprintX GT Championship Series, Championship standings, Drivers' championships
Championship points were awarded for the first twenty positions in each race. The overall pole-sitter also received one point. Entries were required to complete 50% of the winning car's race distance in order to be classified and earn points.


2017 Sri Lanka floods
The 2017 Sri Lanka floods resulted from a heavy southwest monsoon, beginning around 18 to 19 May 2017. Flooding was worsened by the arrival of the precursor system to Cyclone Mora, causing flooding and landslides throughout Sri Lanka during the final week of May 2017. The floods affected 15 districts, killed at least 208 people and left a further 78 people missing. As of 3 June, 698,289 people were affected, while 11,056 houses were partially damaged and another 2,093 houses completely destroyed. According to Al Jazeera, about 600,000 people have been displaced due to the floods.


2017 Sri Lanka floods
The flooding severely affected Sri Lanka's Western Province, Sabaragamuwa Province, Southern Province and part of Central Province. The worst-affected districts were Kalutara, Matara and Ratnapura. In Kalutara, flooding of the Kalu River also triggered several mudflows. Agalawatte, a town within Kalutara District, reported 47 deaths and 62 people missing as of 29 May, with many areas made inaccessible by landslides. The Ratnapura District had recorded 79 deaths by 30 May.


2017 Sri Lanka floods, Floods
The southwest monsoon typically peaks during late May to the beginning of June in Sri Lanka, with prevailing winds from the south and southwest, streaming toward the Bay of Bengal. The areas that usually receive the heaviest rain are the south and west of the country, including Kalutara, Ratnapura, and Colombo. The monsoon was anticipated to arrive after 14 May, but owing to below-normal water levels in the region, it was initially not expected to cause severe flooding.


2017 Sri Lanka floods, Floods
Parts of Sri Lanka received 300 mm – 500 mm of heavy monsoon rain in a 24-hour period by 25 May, resulting in widespread flooding. Highest recorded rainfall was 533 mm in Kukuleganga. Galle, a coastal city, received 223 mm (8.8 in) and Ratnapura experienced 453 mm (17.8 in) of rainfall during the period of 27 to 30 May, leading to severe inland flooding. On 27 May, an area of convective thunderstorms in the Bay of Bengal started to converge, moving to the northeast and becoming Cyclone Mora on 28 May. Cyclone Mora later affected Bangladesh and Myanmar.


2017 Sri Lanka floods, Floods
By the evening of 25 May, the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) of Sri Lanka had issued a "Level 3 Red Alert" landslide warning for the districts of Ratnapura, Kegalle, Galle, Kalutara, Matara, Hambantota and Nuwara Eliya. Areas within Galle District became cut off due to landslides. Part of the Southern Expressway closed, owing to flooding between Colombo and Matara. The Kelani River, which runs through Sri Lanka's largest city Colombo, measured a water level increase of 15.44 m (50.7 ft) by 9:30 a.m. Sri Lanka Time (15:00 UTC) on 27 May, and peaked by 28 May. As of 29 May, the Bolgoda Dam in Panadura was at a risk of collapse.


2017 Sri Lanka floods, Floods
The death toll included at least 45 school children. By 1 June, around 95 people remained missing.


2017 Sri Lanka floods, Response
The Sri Lanka Armed Forces initially deployed nearly 10,000 personnel and equipment for relief, help and rescue operations. This is the biggest deployment of troops during peacetime in Sri Lanka.


2017 Sri Lanka floods, Response
The Sri Lanka Army deployed more than 1700 Army personnel of 17 Battalions, including Commando, Special Forces, Mechanized Infantry and Army medical personnel. BTRs, WMZs troop carriers and 30 Army boats and other machinery were deployed by the Army for the rescue operations. The Army also deployed sandbags for flood defenses.


2017 Sri Lanka floods, Response
The Sri Lanka Navy deployed over 110 search-and-rescue teams comprising 776 naval personnel along with 116 relief boats. The Navy began rescue work along the Kelani River by 19 May.


2017 Sri Lanka floods, Response
The Sri Lanka Air Force deployed Mil Mi-17s, Bell 212s, and Bell 412 helicopters to rescue the affected in all areas. Flights involving B200 Beechcraft were deployed for continuous reconnaissance/observations over affected areas.


2017 Sri Lanka floods, Response
During search and rescue operations a Sri Lanka Air Force Mil Mi-17E crashed over the Baddegama area, but no one aboard the chopper was injured. One member of the response team died from injuries sustained while conducting rescue operations.


2017 Sri Lanka floods, Response
At least 77,000 people were evacuated from the floods and relocated to safe locations. Sixteen hospitals in the flood-affected areas were also evacuated.


2017 Sri Lanka floods, International response
Foreign Minister told "16 countries had rushed relief supplies and medicine".


2017 Sri Lankan fuel crisis
Sri Lanka, from 3 November 2017 until 11 November 2017, faced a fuel shortage when a substandard fuel shipment was rejected which caused a depletion in reservations due to the general public fearing of a prolonged duration of crisis. However, there was only a shortage of petrol not diesel or kerosene.


2017 Sri Lankan fuel crisis, Events
The Sri Lanka fuel crisis began on 3 November 2017 when rumours started spreading that a fuel shipment belonging to Lanka IOC (Indian Oil Company) was rejected. Later on the rumour was confirmed as legitimate and the reason given was that the fuel in the rejected shipment was not up to standards. Arjuna Ranatunga the Minister of Petroleum Resources Development on the next day addressed the situation to the media.


2017 Sri Lankan fuel crisis, Events
However the Ministry of Petroleum Resources Development announced that there was 10,000 metric tonnes fuel in the reserves to last till 9 November 2017 but the leader of the Ceylon Petroleum Union, Asanka Ranawala said the contrary to this. Due to development of the tense situation the general public started panic buying causing the reserves to deplete faster than expected. However the crisis was brought to a stop after the ship Nevaska Lady on 11 November 2017 with 40,000 metric tonnes of fuel which was reported as being sufficient for twenty days.


2017 Sri Lankan fuel crisis, Other causes
Other than the substandard fuel rejected being the main reason for the crisis there were several other events that worsened the crisis during this time period.


2017 Sri Lankan fuel crisis, Implemented solutions
Many steps were taken by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources Development to overcome the problem until any fuel shipments arrived


2017 Sri Lankan fuel crisis, Aftermath
A cabinet sub committee  was appointed by the President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena in order to investigate the crisis on the 7 November 2017. According to the report submitted by the committee on 17 November 2017 the main reason for the crisis was the failure to maintain proper fuel stocks according to the average use and  another reason was the failure to report the dire situation to higher authorities on time causing the whole situation to go out of hand. However, according to the officials the report is inconclusive and the sub committee has also requested recruiting technical officers to get a more detailed report.


2017 Sri Lankan national honours
In March 2017 President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena awarded national honours to 90 individuals for distinguished services. It was the first time in twelve years that awards were given out and there were 426 applicants. The awards ceremony was held on 20 March 2017 at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre in Colombo.


2017 Srinagar by-election
A by-election was held in the Lok Sabha constituency of Srinagar on 9 April 2017 with repolling in 38 polling on 13 April. It was triggered by the resignation of Tariq Hameed Karra after his defection from Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party to the Indian National Congress.


2017 Srinagar by-election
21 March was the final date for candidates to nominate. Voting took place between 7am and 5pm.


2017 Srinagar by-election, Candidates
Other party candidates included Sajad Reshi of Rashtriya Samajwadi Party, Chetan Sharma of Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha and Bikram Singh of Jammu and Kashmir Liberal Democratic Party. The independent candidates were Sajjad Hussain Beigh, Ghulam Hassan Dar, Farooq Ahmad Dar and Mehraj Khurshid Malik.


2017 Srinagar by-election, Candidates
Some leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party stated in mid-March that it will stand against its government coalition partner the PDP. However only the PDP filed nominations. Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party stated that it had decided to boycott the election, claiming the security cover to its senior leaders was withdrawn. The Kashmiri separatists meanwhile called upon the voters to boycott the poll.


2017 Srinagar by-election, Results
A voter turnout of 7.14%, the lowest in 30 years, was recorded amidst violent protests and attacks on polling stations by mobs during the elections on 9 April. Repoll at 38 polling stations was ordered by the Election Commission of India. A 2% voter turnout was recorded in areas where repolling was held on 13 April, bringing the turnout to 7.13%. Farooq Abdullah was declared the winner on the next day with over 10,700 votes over his nearest rival Nazir Ahmad Khan.


2017 Srinagar by-election, Violence and protests
Violence broke out during the elections on 9 April with over 200 violent incidents reported, concentrated mostly in Budgam district in addition to attacks on polling stations with poll staff abandoning about 70% of election stations. Protesters tried to enforce a boycott that had been called by the separatists. 8 people were killed in clashes between mobs and security forces. Videos of Kashmiri youths beating up CRPF troops who did not retaliate, as well as videos of purported excesses by Indian troops created controversies. The repolling on 13 April was relatively peaceful with only one incident of stone-throwing reported, however with a very low voter turnout.


2017 Srinagar by-election, Violence and protests
The by-poll for the Lok Sabha seat of Anantnag which was originally scheduled for 12 April was also postponed to 25 May due to the violence in the Srinagar by-poll. The election to the Anantnag seat was later cancelled with the Election Commission citing security problems.


2017 Sriwijaya F.C. season
The 2017 Sriwijaya season  is the 11th season in the club's football history, the 11th consecutive season in the top-flight Liga Indonesia season and the 7th season competing in the Liga 1.


2017 St Kilda Football Club season
The 2017 St Kilda Football Club season was the St Kilda Football Club's 119th season in the AFL.


2017 St Patrick's Athletic F.C. season
The 2017 season was St. Patrick's Athletic F.C. 's 88th year in existence and was the Supersaint's 66th consecutive season in the top-flight of Irish football. It was the sixth year that Liam Buckley is the team's manager (in his current spell), following replacing Pete Mahon in December 2011.


2017 St Patrick's Athletic F.C. season
With the new change to the League of Ireland structure, 3 clubs were set to be relegated from the Premier Division, which has created an intense relegation between many clubs, including Pats' due to their lower budget than previous years following a poor 2016 season in which they finished 7th in the league, making 2017 the first year in 7 years without European football. The relegation battle went right down to the last day of the season, where Pat's secured the necessary point to stay up following a 1–1 draw away to Derry City.


2017 St Patrick's Athletic F.C. season, Squad, Squad statistics, Appearances, goals and cards
Number in brackets represents (appearances of which were substituted ON). Last Updated – 28 October 2017


2017 St Patrick's Athletic F.C. season, Squad, Squad statistics, Captains
Last updated: 28 October 2017Source: Competitive match reports. Competitive matches onlyMatches started as captain onlyCountry: FIFA nationality; No. : Squad number; P: Position; Name: Player name; No. Games: Number of games started as captain.


2017 St Patrick's Athletic F.C. season, Club, Kit
Supplier: UmbroSponsor(s): Pieta House (front of jersey)Bill Griffin Motors (back of jersey)


2017 St Patrick's Athletic F.C. season, Club, Kit
The club released a new Away kit for the season, with the Home and Third kits being retained from the 2016 season. The club's Main Shirt Sponsor, Clune Construction Company L.P.'s sponsorship deal came to an end leaving a vacancy for a new shirt sponsor. This vacancy was filled when the club voluntarily donated their shirt sponsorship place to local suicide prevention charity, Pieta House.


2017 St Patrick's Athletic F.C. season, Club, Kit
Key:LOI=League of Ireland Premier DivisionFAI=FAI CupEAC=EA Sports CupLSC=Leinster Senior CupFRN=Friendly


2017 St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers men's soccer team
The 2017 St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers men's soccer team represent St. Francis College during the 2017 NCAA Division I men's soccer season. The Terrier's home games are played at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 5. The team has been a member of the Northeast Conference since 1981 and is coached by Tom Giovatto, who was in his eleventh year at the helm of the Terriers.


2017 St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers men's soccer team
Going into the season, the Teriers were unanimously picked by the NEC's head coaches to defend its crown in 2017. The Terriers ended their season at 14–5–1 overall and  6–0–1 in conference play. The Terriers won the NEC Regular season championship and the Tournament Championship.


2017 St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers men's soccer team, 2017 squad
As of August 21, 2017. Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2017 St. George Illawarra Dragons season
The 2017 St. George Illawarra Dragons season was the 19th in the joint venture club's history. The Dragons competed in the NRL's 2017 Telstra Premiership season.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season
The 2017 St. Louis Cardinals season was the 136th for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB), a franchise in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the 126th season for the Cardinals in the National League (NL), and their 12th at Busch Stadium III. The Cardinals missed the playoffs for a second consecutive season, having last done that between the 2007 and 2008 seasons.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Off-season, Overview
Major League Baseball and the Players' Association reached a new, tentative CBA contract to reduce the 15-day disabled list timetable to 10-days. This change will allow teams to make quicker decisions on whether to bring up a roster replacement rather than wait to see if the injured player would be ready to return to action in less than two weeks. In addition, the Home field advantage in the World Series for the league winning the All-Star Game is repealed starting this year. Home field advantage in the World Series will be awarded to the league champion team with the better regular season win-loss record. The details of the new five-years contract (expiring Nov. 30, 2021) listed .


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Off-season, Overview
Commissioner Rob Manfred levied a severe penalty, Jan. 30, 2017, on the Cardinals organization from former scouting director Chris Correa's hacking of the Houston Astros database in 2013 and 2014, who was fired by early-July 2015, and is now serving out a 46-month sentence (for unlawfully accessing another company's information) that began in July 2016, and ordered to pay a $279,038 fine.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Off-season, Overview
The Cardinals must give the Astros their No. 56 overall selection, part of the Draft's second round, and the No. 75 overall selection, part of Compensation Round B. St. Louis does not possess a first-round pick in this year's Draft. Additionally, the team must pay the Astros $2 million. No other person was responsible for hacking into the Astros' database. Correa has been placed on baseball's permanently ineligible list.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Off-season, Acquisitions, departures, and roster moves, Players
Former Cubs' center fielder and free agent Dexter Fowler signed with the Cardinals on December 9, 2016, for $82.5 mil. over 5 years. The contract includes a full no-trade clause.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Off-season, Acquisitions, departures, and roster moves, Players
Yadier Molina reached an agreement for a 3-year contract extension on April 2, for a reported $60 million, making him the highest-paid catcher in baseball. He wasn't interested in exercising his 2018 mutual option, which would have been worth $15 million. The average annual value of Giants' catcher Buster Posey's contract is $18.5 million. The extension assures Molina of remaining in St. Louis through 2020, and increases the chances that he will finish his career having played for just one organization that drafted him (2000), and he has been in the majors since 2004. This distinction of having Molina retire as a Cardinal is something that carried weight for both parties throughout the negotiations.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Off-season, Acquisitions, departures, and roster moves, Players
In the 12 seasons Molina has been the No. 1 catcher, the Cards have won more regular-season games than any other National League team (1,075). Their 48 postseason victories are the most in baseball in that time. There have been three NL pennants and World Series wins in 2006 and 2011. Molina? Seven-time All-Star. Eight-time Gold Glove winner. Throwing arm one of the best ever. The Cards have a 3.79 ERA over the past 12 years, the second lowest in the Majors. The Cards had two other factors to weigh. One is that one of their top prospects, Carson Kelly, is a catcher and widely considered Major League ready. Another is that Molina's 1,582 games are the 24th most in history at his position, and he's likely to become just the sixth to break the 2,000-game mark.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Off-season, Acquisitions, departures, and roster moves, Players
No position takes its toll on a body more than catcher. Still, at 34, Molina is coming off a season in which he started a career-high 142 games and batted .307. He batted .333 in the World Baseball Classic (Puerto Rico), and looked as good as ever behind the plate.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Off-season, Acquisitions, departures, and roster moves, Players
April 3 brought yet another contract extension. Stephen Piscotty, 26, signed a six-year extension for a reported $33.75 million ($5.625 mil. average), with a $15 million option for 2023 on April 3. Piscotty was not yet arbitration-eligible, and his first year of free-agent eligibility was to be 2022. Five years ago, the Cardinals plucked Piscotty out of Stanford University with one of the two picks they netted as compensation for Albert Pujols' departure. Since making his big league debut, Piscotty has posted a .282/.349/.467 slash line and an .816 OPS. In 2016, Piscotty led the Cards in games played (153), runs scored (86), RBIs (85) and game-winning RBIs (10).


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Spring training
The Cardinals had 66 players in camp before 11 were sent to minor league camp on March 13, including three on the 40-man roster, and eight non-roster invitees. Among those sent down was left-handed pitcher Marco Gonzales (40-man), who still is working his way back from Tommy John surgery that he had about 11 months ago. Gonzales has been working behind the scenes with a few bullpen sessions during Spring Training, and it's possible he could wrap up his recovery by the end of May. "Once Marco gets healthy, it's just a matter of how well he's able to execute his pitches," Matheny said of the left-hander's potential return to the Cardinals.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Spring training
The other players reassigned were RHP Sandy Alcantara, INF Eliezer Alvarez (40-man), RHP Jack Flaherty, LHP Austin Gomber, C Andrew Knizner, C Jeremy Martinez, C Dennis Ortega, RHP Daniel Poncedeleon, RHP Robby Rowland and INF Edmundo Sosa (40-man).


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Spring training
Matheny praised all of them, and said he was especially impressed with Ortega's work in camp.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Spring training
"Dennis really showed a lot of moxie behind the plate," Matheny said of the 19-year-old prospect. "He catches older than 19, and I think you're going to see a high ceiling with him. ... All of them have had a good spring. The development staff has done such a great job. It just seems every one of these kids, they're coming in and they just look a little more refined. They've been really on top of their game, and you can tell they have a lot of things to look forward to."


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Spring training
On March 16, RHP Corey Baker and Trey Nielsen were sent to Min. Lg. camp.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Spring training
NRI (LHP) Jordan Schafer had arm surgery on March 17.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Spring training
The Cardinals optioned RHP Luke Weaver to AAA-Memphis, and reassigned RH reliever Mitch Harris to minor league camp on March 18. The moves left 35 active players and 16 non-roster invitees in big league Spring Training.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Spring training
2 NRIs, (RHP) Josh Lucas and (LHP) Zach Phillips, were reassigned on March 19, to Min. Lg. camp. Right-hander Rowan Wick and outfielder Anthony Garcia were optioned to AAA-Memphis. On March 20, 2 more NRIs, (C) Gabriel Lino and (OF) Todd Cunningham were also reassigned to Min. Lg. camp. (2b/SS) Breyvic Valera was optioned to AAA-Memphis.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Spring training
(RHP) Sam Tuivailala was optioned to AAA-Memphis on March 22, leaving 31 on the active roster and 42 in big league camp. Matt Adams played the outfield for the first time since Little League. The Cardinals are introducing a new mobile ticket subscription idea called "Ballpark Pass" that gives fans all the home games they want to attend, $29.99/month (with auto-renewal) for each of the six months of the season, by using their smartphone, with no printed tickets. But there are no seats with this new attendance feature, only standing-room. The pass covers all 80 home games, except for Opening Day/Night. More information at


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Spring training
(OF) Tommy Pham was optioned to AAA on March 25, leaving 30 on the active roster and 41 in big league camp. The Opening Day (Night) roster has now been finalized, at the earliest date since Matheny became manager, with (OF) Jose Martinez, 28, having the most poignant story. After 10 years of toiling in the minors, the Venezuelan made his debut last September when he was called up by the Cardinals. But as for making the Opening Day roster, he didn't think that would ever happen.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Spring training
He leads the Cardinals with 17 hits, four homers and 13 RBIs this spring. He also enhanced his credentials by showing that he could play first base, in addition to both corner outfield spots. (RHP) Miguel Socolovich, (RHP) Matt Bowman, (SS/2B) Greg Garcia, and (C) Eric Fryer  were also assured spots on the active roster. Tyler Lyons, Zach Duke, and Alex Reyes will start the season on the disabled list.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Spring training
Four more cuts on March 27, sent (C) Carson Kelly () to get more at-bats, and (RHP) Mike Mayers optioned to AAA. (OF) Adolis García and (3B) Patrick Wisdom gone to Min. Lg. camp. These changes gave the team 28 active players, and 9 NRIs remaining.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Spring training
On the last day at Jupiter on March 29, the Cardinals purchased (C) Eric Fryer's contract from AAA-Memphis, and added him to the 40-man roster. He will be Yadier Molina's backup. To make room on the 40-man roster, the injured (P) Zach Duke is transferred to the 60-day DL. Five NRIs: (3B) Paul DeJong, (RHP) Arturo Reyes, (LHP) Ryan Sherriff, (OF) Harrison Bader, and (OF) Chad Huffman were assigned to Min. Lg. camp. These changes bring the NRIs to 3, with 28 active.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Spring training
The last spring training game for 2017 got the team 20 wins (beating the Washington Nationals, ), first time since 1997, vs. 8 losses. Michael Wacha pitched four innings in 64 pitches, giving up five hits in a 6–2 win. Cardinals outfielder/first baseman José Martínez capped a terrific spring with a two-run double off reliever Phillips Valdez to extend the lead in the sixth. Martinez finished with a team-most 19 hits, 14 runs, 15 RBIs, .508 OBP, .740 Slg% and 1.248 OPS (50 AB), in the .


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Spring training
The Cardinals will play an exhibition game "Battle of the Birds" against their Triple-A affiliate in Memphis on Thu. March 30. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT on KMOX (1120AM), and Gameday Audio. The Cardinals will use several relievers to cover the game, beginning with right-hander Jonathan Broxton, who will be making his first career start. The Cardinals beat the Redbirds,  in slugging four home runs, with Broxton getting the win, pitching only the first inning. Randal Grichuk, who took a pitch off his hand in Wednesday's (Mar. 29) Grapefruit finale, was not in the lineup. He hopes to return soon. The sellout attendance was 10,220 at AutoZone Park.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Spring training
The Cardinals will close out their exhibition schedule Friday (Mar. 31) with a 5:05 p.m. CT game with the Double-A Springfield Cardinals at Hammons Field in Springfield, Mo. Mike Leake, 3–1 in Grapefruit League play, will get his final tuneup. On March 31, Leake threw 89 pitches in a 5–2 win over the team's AA-level Springfield affiliate. Leake called this spring, "the best spring I've had in my career." Randal Grichuk returned to the lineup after missing the AAA-Memphis game with his sore right hand, after getting a HBP to it. He singled on the first pitch he saw. Since Springfield became a Cardinals affiliate in 2005, 104 of its players have reached the big leagues.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Spring training, Injuries
After an MRI, Alex Reyes, 22 (RHP), was diagnosed with a partial UCL tear in his elbow on February 14, and will have Tommy John surgery, losing him for the entire 2017 season. General manager John Mozeliak said an MRI taken of Reyes' elbow in 2013 showed a strain. He didn't begin his minor league season until June that season. He made his major league debut Aug. 9, 2016, and was 4–1 with a 1.57 ERA in five starts and seven relief appearances, with 52 strikeouts in 46 innings. ranks him the #3 pitching prospect in baseball, and #14 overall. ESPN's Keith Law has Reyes ranked as the #2 pitching prospect in baseball.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Spring training, Injuries
Reyes had successful surgery in Florida on February 16. Head team physician Dr. George Paletta performed the procedure.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Spring training, Injuries
NRI (LHP) Jordan Schafer went under the knife on March 17. Instead of replacing Schafer's ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow, Cardinals team doctor George Paletta performed a repair of the ligament. By avoiding Tommy John surgery, Schafer has an estimated recovery time of seven months. If the ligament had been replaced, recovery would have taken at least a year.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Spring training, Injuries
The injury-bug hit the Cardinals once again on March 30, with (RHP) Trevor Rosenthal going on the 10-day disabled list with a right lat strain. The move gives (RHP) Sam Tuivailala an active roster spot. The Cardinals have three off-days over their first 10-game stretch, giving them more leeway for the starters' rotation and relievers needed. Others who start the season on the 10-day DL are: (LHP) Tyler Lyons (right knee), and (RHP) John Gant (right groin), and (RHP) Alex Reyes (Tommy John surgery).


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary
Manager Mike Matheny made the speculation official on March 19: Michael Wacha would join Carlos Martinez, Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn, and Mike Leake in an all-righty rotation. Wacha entered Spring Training without a confirmed rotation spot. He had posted a 2.65 ERA and 1.24 WHIP over five starts. Wacha had struck out 15 and walked four over 17 innings. He had two spring starts remaining. The Cards had yet to reveal how they will order the five to begin the season, or who would start the team's season opener in two weeks.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary
On March 22, manager Matheny decided the Opening Night starter would be Carlos Martinez, his first opening day start. At 25, he was the youngest pitcher to draw an Opening Day start for the Cards since Joe Magrane in 1989. Martinez was opposed by the Chicago Cubs' Jon Lester in the nationally televised game from Busch Stadium. He signed a five-year, $51 million contract with the team in January. He was St. Louis' top starter in 2016, going 16–9, with a 3.04 ERA and 174 strikeouts in a career-high 195.1 innings. Adam Wainwright started the second game on April 4.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary
It was announced that the Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates would be the latest MLB teams to play a game in historic Williamsport, Pennsylvania, site of the annual Little League World Series, at BB&T Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field, home of the Williamsport Crosscutters, a Philadelphia Phillies affiliate in the short-season (New York-Penn League). The stadium has an official seating capacity of 2,366. They would play on Sunday, August 20, with Pittsburgh as the home team. It would be televised by ESPN as its weekly Sunday Night Baseball game. Outfielder Randal Grichuk played (and pitched) for the Lamar Little League team that reached the World Series in 2003 and 2004.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, April, Opening Night win over Cubs at Busch Stadium
Opening Night (7:35 pm) was on Sunday April 2, with a nationwide audience on ESPN saw Randal Grichuk drive in three runs, including the game-winning single, a 390-foot blast to left field in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Cubs, 4–3 for the first win of the 2017 season. It was his second career walk-off hit and both were against the Cubs. Grichuk batted a lowly eighth in the lineup after a sub-par spring.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, April, Opening Night win over Cubs at Busch Stadium
Jose Martinez, 28, but a rookie this year and on an Opening Day roster for the first time in his career, crushed a one-out, pinch-hit double in the ninth that landed 397 feet away in right-center, to ignite the Cardinals' game-winning rally. Closer Seung-Hwan Oh had given up a three-run home run in the top of the ninth to Willson Contreras to tie the game 3–3. The homer left a no-decision, after an outstanding 7.1 innings from ace Carlos Martinez, enjoying his first Opening Day start of his career.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, April, Opening Night win over Cubs at Busch Stadium
Martinez carved up the Cubs' lineup, struck out 10 (including reigning National League MVP Kris Bryant three times), walking none, scattering six hits (one double), and never allowed a runner to advance past second. Martinez became the first starting pitcher in the Statcast Era (since 2015) to record three swinging strikeouts on pitches faster than 99 mph. Martinez fanned Bryant with a 99.7-mph fastball in the first and a 99.1-mph fastball in the sixth. Addison Russell struck out on a 99.6-mph fastball in the second inning.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, April, Opening Night win over Cubs at Busch Stadium
The Cubs' manager Joe Maddon said, "He's got as good a right-handed arm as anybody in the league." Dexter Fowler legged-out an infield hit in the third inning, his first since defecting from the Cubs to the Cardinals over the off-season, giving the Cards their first run of the game and season after Matt Carpenter's sacrifice fly.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, April, Opening Night win over Cubs at Busch Stadium
Yadier Molina had the distinction of becoming the first player in baseball history to receive a no-pitch intentional walk, that loaded the bases for Grichuk, who, having smashed a critical two-run homer an inning earlier making it 3–0, launched a 1–1 pitch off the wall in left-center to set off a celebration. MLB columnist Phil Rogers opined about this most-intense rivalry in baseball: "You better believe the Cardinals have their hopes of winning it all. They might be at their most dangerous when you don't see them coming, and this could be that kind of year. The march to October has begun, and don't be surprised if it includes teams on both ends of this rivalry." Commissioner Rob Manfred was among those in attendance. The three hour 33 minute game featured the third-largest attendance (47,566) in Busch Stadium history.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, April, Rosenthal activated, Tuivailala optioned
On April 10, injured reliever Trevor Rosenthal was activated from the 10-day DL and Sam Tuivailala was optioned to AAA Memphis. The organization liked the idea of using Rosenthal as a flex reliever who could pitch multiple innings mid-game or meaningful ones late in games. One week into the season, the Cards' bullpen had allowed 13 runs and six home runs over 17.1 innings.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, April, Lyons activated, Peralta on DL
On April 20, injured LH Reliever Tyler Lyons was activated from the DL. Jhonny Peralta was placed on the DL due to an upper respiratory illness.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, April, Carpenter serves one-game suspension
Matt Carpenter served a one-game suspension on April 25, for bumping umpire John Tumpane on April 23. Carpenter was ejected by Tumpane after arguing a pair of called strikes in the seventh inning. As the argument turned heated, the top of Carpenter's helmet scraped the bottom of Tumpane's hat. Any contact with an umpire automatically triggers a suspension. Carpenter also paid a fine. The Cardinals on April 25 out-righted outfielder Anthony Garcia and did not immediately fill the roster spot


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, April, Chris Coghlan does aerial flip to score
Blue Jays pinch-hitter Chris Coghlan performed an acrobatic aerial flip and somersault over Yadier Molina to score the go-ahead run in the seventh inning in the April 25, 6–5 loss in 11 innings. The run snapped reliever Matt Bowman's 19.2 inning scoreless streak. The Cardinals answered in the bottom of the seventh with outfielder José Martínez hitting his first career home run, a two-run blast to tie the game at four. The Blue Jays blew two saves in a game for the first time since 2014, but it avoided its worst 20-game start in franchise history by improving to 6–14, while the Cardinals missed a chance to get to .500 and fell to 9–11.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, April, Carpenter hits grand slam in 11th to beat Blue Jays
Matt Carpenter hit a walk-off grand slam, and first grand slam of his career, in the 11th inning of an 8–4 victory versus the Blue Jays in the first game of a split double-header on April 27.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, May, Lyons back on DL, Tuivailala recalled
LHP Tyler Lyons was placed back on the DL on May 2 with a right intercostal muscle strain. RHP Sam Tuivailala was recalled.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, May, Piscotty on DL for first time, Pham recalled
On May 5, RF Stephen Piscotty was placed on the DL for the first time in his career with a right hamstring strain. Tommy Pham was recalled. CF Dexter Fowler, on the other hand, avoided the DL altogether from a sore right shoulder, and, after undergoing an MRI exam in St. Louis, was cleared to pinch-hit on Friday (May 5).


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, May, Magneuris Sierra makes debut, Jose Martinez on DL
Twenty-one year old (advanced) A-level outfielder Magneuris Sierra made his major league debut on May 7, after José Martínez was put on the DL with a left groin strain. Sierra was the youngest position player to appear with the Cardinals since Miguel Mejia did it 10 days after his 21st birthday in 1996.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, May, Magneuris Sierra makes debut, Jose Martinez on DL
Sierra, who was hitting .272/.337/.407 with seven extra-base hits and three stolen bases in 20 games for the Palm Beach Cardinals (Class A-Advanced) in the Florida State League, was just the third 21-year-old position player to reach the Majors with the Cardinals in the last 22 years; Albert Pujols (2001) was the most recent. Sierra's speed had a big impact on the Cardinals since his first three days from May 7.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, May, Magneuris Sierra makes debut, Jose Martinez on DL
The Cardinals'  in the 6–5 win on May 9, singled and scored in a four-run eighth inning that tied the game at 5, and then singled and scored what proved to be the winning run in the top of the ninth. He dashed home with the game-deciding run on Dexter Fowler's pinch-hit single in the ninth, sliding in ahead of the tag in blazing fashion. His sprint, which was clocked by Statcast™ at 7.24 seconds despite a modest 14.2-foot secondary lead.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, May, Magneuris Sierra makes debut, Jose Martinez on DL
The dash was St. Louis' second-fastest second-to-home time this year on a play with a secondary lead of less than 15 feet. On his ninth-inning single he went from home to first base in 3.88 seconds, helping force an error that got him into scoring position at second. Only seven players this season have recorded a faster home-to-first time on a non-bunt. It tied Sierra's own record (set Monday night, May 8) for the Cardinals' fastest non-bunt, home-to-first time in the Statcast™ Era (since 2015).


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, May, Series win vs. Cubs, consecutive attendance records set
The Cardinals beat the Cubs two best aces in the last two games of the three-set after losing the Friday (May 12, attendance 47,601) game, setting consecutive attendance records at the newest Busch Stadium in the process. On May 13, the Birds beat Jon Lester 5–3, setting a new stadium record with 47,882 paid, with Carlos Martinez the victor.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, May, Series win vs. Cubs, consecutive attendance records set
The next (day) game, May 14, saw Adam Wainwright return to his usual superb form over seven innings, shutting out the Cubs and ace Jake Arrieta, 5–0, thanks in part to Matt Carpenter's first hit in the regular season off good buddy and former teammate at Texas Christian University, and groomsman at his wedding, Arrieta. Prior to that home run, Carpenter was 0-for-28 in the regular season against him. The attendance of 47,925 broke the previous day's record. The three-game total of 143,408 set the all-time series record. The Cardinals retained first place in the NL Central (21–15, .583; 1 game ahead of the surprising Milwaukee Brewers, 21–17), while the Cubs, who fell below .500 (18–19, .486) with their seventh loss in nine games, sit 3 1/2 games back.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, May, Gant activated, optioned to Memphis
RH reliever John Gant was activated from the DL on May 16, and sent to AAA Memphis.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, May, Peralta activated, Sierra optioned
May 19 brought 3B-man Jhonny Peralta back to active status since April 17, while speedy OF'er Magneuris Sierra was optioned (played in May 17 game, no game May 18), with a promotion to the (AA Level) Springfield Cardinals. Peralta batted only .120 (3-for-25) in eight games, while Sierra made his major league debut on May 7, hitting safely in each of his seven games played, batting .367 (11-for-30) with eight runs scored.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, May, Cardinals lose, committing 35th error
The San Francisco Giants won on May 19, 6–5, thanks to the Cardinals' NL-leading 35th error of the season helping the Giants to their three-run seventh. Dexter Fowler brought the Cardinals to a 5–3 lead with a three-run home run in the bottom of the inning after a 46-min rain delay, before the Giants answered with a run in the eighth, and two more in the ninth for the win. Prior to the loss, the Cardinals had not lost a game this season when taking a lead into the ninth. The Giants are now 2–21 this season when trailing after eight innings, and they entered 6–15 on the road. Mark Melancon, making his first appearance since May 3, converted his 17th career save against the Cardinals, most against any opponent.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, May, Matt Adams traded, Piscotty activated from DL
Before the game on May 20, the Cardinals announced a trade: 1B Matt Adams to the Atlanta Braves and cash considerations for a minor league infielder Juan Yepez. Stephen Piscotty was activated from the DL after finishing a rehab assignment since his May 4 injured right hamstring strain. 1B/3B Yepez is 19, from Caracas, Venezuela, who signed with the Braves in July 2014, as a non-drafted free agent, who was playing at A-level with the Rome Braves.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, May, Tuivailala optioned to Memphis Redbirds, Lyons activated
On May 22, RH reliever Sam Tuivailala was optioned to the AAA Memphis Redbirds, leaving 24 on the active roster and 38 on the 40-man roster. The next day, LH reliever Tyler Lyons was activated, joining the team in time for the series in Los Angeles against the Dodgers.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, May, Piscotty on personal leave
RF Stephen Piscotty took personal leave before the Friday, May 26 game. He remained on the roster after he left Friday, and Matheny said he didn't know when to expect him to return to the club. The Cardinals did not appear to have a player available to add to the roster in time for Friday's game, but they could add a player during the weekend to take Piscotty's place. He left a couple hours before the first pitch. He was not in the lineup, but that was unrelated to his personal matter.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, May, Socolovich DFA, John Brebbia purchased (AAA)
RH reliever Miguel Socolovich was designated for assignment (removed from the 40-man roster temporarily) on May 27. He was 0–1 with one save in 15 appearances, striking out 14 in 182⁄3 innings. RH reliever John Brebbia was purchased from the AAA Memphis Redbirds. Brebbia has made nine straight scoreless appearances for Memphis. He has a 1.69 ERA, 29 strikeouts and five walks over 262⁄3 innings.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, May, Wong on DL, Paul DeJong purchased
2B Kolten Wong was placed on the DL, retroactive to May 27, from a left elbow strain before the game on May 28. 3B/SS Paul DeJong, 23, was purchased from AAA.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, May, Martinez activated, Grichuk optioned to A-level
RF José Martinez was activated before the May 29 game. LF Randal Grichuk was optioned to A-level Palm Beach. The team decided to send Grichuk to Palm Beach rather than the Triple-A affiliate in Memphis. GM John Mozeliak said this was to put Grichuk in a lower-stress environment where he could play consistently and work on things like his strike zone management. Mozeliak added that Grichuk will have a different voice to learn from, working with George Greer as he tries to get back to the Majors.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, May, DeJong homers in first at-bat
Newly promoted 2B/3B/SS Paul DeJong hit a home run in his first at-bat in the majors. It came as a pinch-hitter at Coors Field in the ninth inning off veteran closer Greg Holland, who was before the game, 19-for-19 in saves and boasting a 0.96 ERA. The home run was the fourth for the Cardinals, but it did them no good as they fell 4–8 to the Colorado Rockies. The ball sailed 388 feet into the left field stands.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, May, DeJong homers in first at-bat
DeJong hit .294 with a team-high 11 homers and 31 RBIs in 46 games with the Memphis Redbirds this spring, but he has little experience as a pinch-hitter, so he made frequent trips from the dugout to the indoor batting cage. With his parents in the stands, DeJong unwound on a 92 mph fastball and circled the bases into the history books. "It was just a dream come true," DeJong said. "I've been playing baseball since I was four years old, and to do that in my first at bat was something I'll remember forever." DeJong was the ninth Cardinals' player to accomplish the feat: the last time was by Mark Worrell in the second game of a June 5, 2008 doubleheader. He followed up the next day (May 29) with a single and a double against the Los Angeles Dodgers. DeJong is the .


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, May, Gyorko on personal leave, Piscotty on the way back
Jedd Gyorko took personal leave in a hurry before the May 30 game to be with his wife who is expecting. Stephen Piscotty is on his way back to St. Louis after leaving the team Friday (May 26) afternoon to deal with a personal matter at his home in Pleasanton, California. His mother was diagnosed with ALS. He returned to the team in time for the May 31 game after missing five games. Because of the two personal leaves, the Cardinals played with a two-man bench on May 30.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, May, Broxton released, John Gant recalled
RH reliever John Gant was recalled before the game on May 31, after Jonathan Broxton was released. Should Broxton sign elsewhere, the Cardinals will be responsible for the remainder of his $3.75 million salary in 2017, minus the pro-rated minimum. Broxton, 32, threw 152⁄3 innings for the Cardinals this year with an awful 6.89 ERA. Gant, 24, was acquired by the Cardinals last December as part of the package that sent Jaime Garcia to the Atlanta Braves.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, May, Broxton released, John Gant recalled
He had begun 2017 on the disabled list with a right groin strain, but returned on May 16, and had been working as a starter in Memphis. In three starts for the Memphis Redbirds, Gant was 0–1 with a 2.19 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 121⁄3 total innings. He will be available for Wednesday night's (May 31) game against the Dodgers out of the bullpen as the long reliever.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Pujols hits his 600th home run with Angels
Former Cardinals' superstar Albert Pujols hit his 600th career home run on June 3 for the Los Angeles Angels, becoming only the ninth player to achieve that feat. He was the first to hit a grand slam for his 600th. He hit his 500th on April 22, 2014. Pujols at 37 and 139 days, is the fourth-youngest player (behind Alex Rodriguez, Babe Ruth, and Hank Aaron) to hit 600 homers.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Pujols hits his 600th home run with Angels
He joined Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714), Alex Rodriguez (696), Willie Mays (660), Ken Griffey Jr. (630), Jim Thome (612), and Sammy Sosa (609), as the only other players to have 600. Thome was the last to do it on August 15, 2011. Pujols hit .328 with a 1.037 OPS averaging 40 Doubles (455 with the Cardinals), 40 home runs (445 with the Cardinals), and 121 RBIs per season when with the Cardinals in the 11 years, 2001–2011.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Pujols hits his 600th home run with Angels
He signed a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Angels before the 2012 campaign, though age and a spate of lower-body injuries have stunted his production in recent years. He hit .328/.420/.617 in those 11 years (21–32), but only .265/.323/.469 (.793 OPS) with the Angels (2012 – June 3, 2017; 32–37) from injuries.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Gyorko returns from Paternity Leave, Sierra optioned
3B Jedd Gyorko was reinstated from Paternity Leave in the birth of his third child, before the finale on June 4; after missing the first two games against the Cubs. OF'er Magneuris Sierra was optioned to AA-level Springfield Cardinals. Gyorko leads the team with a .321 average.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Ballpark Village a finalist for ULI's Global Award for Excellence
Ballpark Village is one of 25 finalists for the Urban Land Institute's Global Award for Excellence, . The award recognizes "outstanding development projects on an international platform in the private, public and nonprofit sectors." The Cardinals and The Cordish Companies collaborated on the planning and construction of Ballpark Village, which opened in 2014. It marked the first time that a professional sports venue was master planned and fully integrated into a broader mixed-use development. Ballpark Village has attracted more than 10 million guests since opening, and it will soon be expanding.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Ballpark Village a finalist for ULI's Global Award for Excellence
Over the offseason, the Cardinals and The Cordish Companies announced plans for a 550,000 square feet (12.6 acres) second phase that will include a residential towner, office space and additional retail restaurant and entertainment space. Construction on that $220 million phase is expected to begin later this year. ULI will select a winner among these finalists during its October meeting in Los Angeles. The Cordish Companies have been awarded seven ULI Awards for Excellence, more than any other developer in the world.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Scooter Gennett hits 4 home runs
On June 6, the Cincinnati Reds' utility infielder, Scooter Gennett, 27, had the night of his career with a 4-home run game (#4, 5, 6, and 7) including a grand slam, going 5-for-5 (a single), and driving in 10 runs, in a 13–1 thrashing of the plummeting Cardinals with their fifth-straight loss. He became the 17th player, and it was the first time against any Cardinals' team, to accomplish the 4-homer game feat, with his fourth in the bottom of the eighth inning with a man on-base, for his 9th and 10th RBIs. His slash line jumped from .270/.308/.450  with a .758 OPS to .302/.336/.578 and .914 OPS with a 135 OPS+, and his RBIs from 20 to 30. Josh Hamilton was the last player to have a 4-home run game on May 8, 2012.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Chad Huffman promoted, Gant optioned
1B Chad Huffman, a longtime friend of Matt Carpenter, was promoted from AAA. RHP John Gant was optioned The Cardinals had an open spot for Huffman on the 40-man roster, and made space for him on the active roster by optioning RHP John Gant. The move reduced the pitching staff to 12 for the first time since April 20.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Peralta DFA, Wong activated; coaching changes
The Cardinals held a press conference before the game on June 9, with GM John Mozeliak announcing a number of personnel changes after a disastrous 0–7 road trip. 3B Jhonny Peralta was DFA, and 2B Kolten Wong was activated. In addition, there were a number of coaching changes. Assistant hitting coach Bill Mueller was given a leave of absence, replaced by Mark Budaska (hitting coach at AAA-Memphis). 3B coach Chris Maloney was reassigned within the organization, replaced by quality control coach Mike Shildt. Ron "Pop" Warner was added to the coaching staff.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Peralta DFA, Wong activated; coaching changes
This is the first time Mozeliak had to make a mid-season coaching staff change. The drop to 26–32, was the lowest below .500 that Mgr. Mike Matheny has seen since his hire after the 2011 season. It is also the first time since the end of the 2007 season that they have had a record this poor this late in the season. During the road trip, there wasn't a facet of the game that could support the Cardinals. The starting pitching faltered and frayed with an ERA greater than 7.00 and not one quality start.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Peralta DFA, Wong activated; coaching changes
The manager twice removed a starter early in order to goose the substandard offense with a pinch-hitter, and still the Cardinals scored a total of 20 runs in the seven-day trip. They allowed more than 40. The bullpen ruptured in the final three games of the series in Cincinnati with a close game Wednesday coming apart on lefty Brett Cecil.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Cards end seven-game losing streak
The Cardinals ended their worst losing streak (7 games) since 2007 on June 9 at home against the weak Phillies, from strong pitching by Michael Wacha, a key home run by Aledmys Diaz, and a four-star catch by Tommy Pham to end the threat in the ninth inning.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Martinez throws first complete game and shutout
Carlos Martinez threw his first career complete game and shutout on June 10 (afternoon game), at home against the Phillies, 7–0. He scattered four hits, striking out 11. It was his first shutout in 80 starts. Eric Fryer was the catcher, with Yadier Molina out with a strained back. Martinez had been oh-so-close to checking the accomplishment off his list a month ago when he twirled nine scoreless innings against the San Francisco Giants. He had to settle for a no-decision, however, since his offense couldn't muster a run of support.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Martinez throws first complete game and shutout
In becoming the first Cardinals' pitcher to notch a complete game this year, Martinez highlighted why the Cardinals believe he's a budding ace in this rotation. The Phillies did not advance a runner as far as third, and with 11 strikeouts, Martinez became the first Cards' pitcher since Adam Wainwright (2010) with four straight starts of at least eight strikeouts. He finished with a pitch count of 107. His 2.84 runs support was third-lowest in the National League, but a day after general manager John Mozeliak called out the offense's timid production, it came through with its biggest inning output (four runs) of the season.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Cardinals sweep Phillies, Wainwright leads pitchers
Adam Wainwright pitched five strong innings on June 11, in his team-leading 7th win (against 4 losses), giving up 2 runs, leading the team to a 6–5 win, in its first sweep of an opponent since May 8–10. Dexter Fowler hit a monster-length 3-run home run, giving the Cards a 3–2 lead after five innings, which they kept, although surviving a 2-run scare (after leading 6–3) in the ninth. Yadier Molina missed his third consecutive game. The team enjoys an off-day on Monday, June 12.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Cardinals sweep Phillies, Wainwright leads pitchers
The bats showed life, but it was against a Phillies' pitching staff that ranks last in ERA (5.02), versus the Cardinals that had been mostly listless at the plate during a winless seven-game road trip. The Cardinals arrived home on Friday (June 9) having been outscored, 42–20, while slashing .212/.285/.332 over the previous week. Little had looked right, and that led Cardinals GM John Mozeliak to put the group on notice. Production over the next four to six weeks, Mozeliak said, would likely determine the Cardinals' position at the non-waiver Trade Deadline at the end of July. "It's hard to win games when you're scoring 2.5 runs per game," Mozeliak said. "Certainly when you look at how we were thinking this offense would work, it hasn't done so. We can start at the top."


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Cardinals sweep Phillies, Wainwright leads pitchers
That would be with Matt Carpenter and Dexter Fowler, neither of whom has played up to expectation. Matheny sought to jostle things by flipping their spots in the lineup, and, for at least one weekend, it worked. Fowler's three-run homer out of the second spot in the lineup put the Cardinals ahead for good on Sunday (June 11), and it capped a three-game series in which he and Carpenter, hitting from in his familiar spot at leadoff, went 8-for-22 with five extra-base hits, four runs and five RBIs. All eight starting position players reached base at least once on Sunday. In both Friday and Saturday's (June 10) win, seven of the eight did so. The offense tallied 27 hits and 16 runs in all. Its 13 combined runs scored in the final two games represented the most the Cardinals have scored in consecutive games in more than a month.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, DeJong optioned to AAA, M Gonzalez and Tuivailala recalled for DH, Peralta released
2B Paul DeJong was optioned to AAA on June 12. LHP Marco Gonzalez was recalled, as was RHP Sam Tuivailala for the June 13 split double-header, which temporarily gives the team 26 on the active roster. 3B Jhonny Peralta was given his release after the Cardinals could not find another team interested in him after his designated for assignment. The club will pay the remainder of his $10 million salary. Gonzalez will be making his first start since 2015, from injury and returned after Tommy John surgery in May.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Cards-Brewers split DH
The Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers split their split-DH on June 13, and no change in their standings. In the first game (1:15pm), Jose Martinez had his first multi-HR game in slugging two homers, driving in three runs. It meant more than usual for him, because his mom was there to see it. Lance Lynn pitched five strong innings, in a 6–0 shutout of the first-place Brewers. Lynn got his first win (5–3) since May 5, allowing only three hits, striking out eight, but walking four. He had 95 pitches on a 95-degree day at Busch.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Cards-Brewers split DH
Chad Huffman, pinch-hitting for Lynn, got his first major-league hit since 2010, with his first career triple. LHP Tyler Lyons recorded his first major-league save, pitching the last three innings. The Cardinals' bullpen blew another lead and lost the nightcap, 8–5, giving them no advance on the Brewers for the day, with two more games to play against them in the next two days. Marco Gonzales started for the first time since 2015, but could only go 3.1 innings, giving up six hits, five runs on three HRs, walking none, striking out two.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Wong back on DL, DeJong recalled
2B Kolten Wong was back on the DL, before the June 15 game with a right triceps strain. Paul DeJong was recalled. Wong was taken out of the June 15 game prior to the sixth inning. He came off the DL on June 9, recovering from a left elbow injury, missing 13 games from May 27 – June 8.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Another flurry of roster moves to right a sinking ship
Before the June 25 Sunday Night Baseball game on ESPN, the Cardinals announced another flurry of moves designed to right a sinking ship after losing three straight to a season-low, seven-below-.500 mark of 33–40 (.452). The Cardinals recalled OF Randal Grichuk and RHP-reliever Mike Mayers from AAA, purchased the contract of 1B Luke Voit,26,–a St. Louis native (Lafayette High School) making his major-league debut, optioned 1B Chad Huffman, and DL'ed OF Dexter Fowler (right heel spur), and LH-reliever Kevin Siegrist (cervical spine sprain). In 70 games with AAA-Memphis, Voit hit .322/.406/.561 (.967 OPS), with 23 doubles, 12 home runs, and 45 RBIs, before his debut. He serves as a backup to first baseman Matt Carpenter, and as a pinch-hitter off the bench.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, DeJong switched to SS
After his 20th game playing 2B, Paul DeJong was switched to SS. He played SS for four games prior to his switch on June 27 (Jun 6, 17, 21, and 24).


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Diaz optioned, Mejia recalled, A. Reyes trans. to 60-day DL
Before the June 28 game in the desert against the resurgent Arizona Diamondbacks (50–28, .641, 2nd in NL West), the Cardinals optioned the struggling hitting-and-fielding SS Aledmys Diaz to AAA, purchased the contract of utility infielder Alex Mejia, and cleared the 40-man spot for Mejia by transferring starter RHP Alex Reyes to the 60-day DL. Diaz' OPS+ of 80 is 54 points lower than it was a year ago, and his slugging percentage has dropped from .510 to .396.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Diaz optioned, Mejia recalled, A. Reyes trans. to 60-day DL
He has struck out more frequently, walked less often, and not shown the same discipline that made him so successful last year. Diaz has swung and missed at 14% of the pitches outside the strike zone. That's five percentage points higher than last year. Diaz's .260 batting average would be much lower if not for his ability to beat out 21 infield hits. His minus-9 Defensive Runs Saved ranked second worst in the Majors among players with at least 250 innings played at short.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Diaz optioned, Mejia recalled, A. Reyes trans. to 60-day DL
Matheny said the Cardinals will prioritize work for Diaz at short in Memphis, though getting him exposure at other infield spots hasn't been ruled out. With Diaz gone, the Cardinals are likely to give rookie Paul DeJong a heavy dose of work at short. Greg Garcia and Mejia, who is considered an above-average defensive shortstop, will also be options. Mejia, a fourth-round Draft pick in 2012, has fluctuated between AA Springfield and AAA Memphis for the last three seasons. The 26-year-old hit .251/.305/.366 in 63 AA games this year before earning a promotion to AAA, where he batted .263/.333/.289 in 11 games. He made his major league debut on June 29, playing 2B.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Cardinals promote GM Mozeliak to Pres of BB Ops; Mike Girsch new GM
On June 30, the Cardinals promoted GM John Mozeliak to the new position of President of Baseball Operations, and Assistant GM Mike Girsch to be the new GM. Mozeliak was hired as GM on October 31, 2007. Mozeliak's promotion continues a trend across baseball of how personnel departments are now structured, giving one person the power of overseeing baseball operations while also retaining a GM position. Other teams who use such a structure include the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, Oakland Athletics and the Tampa Bay Rays.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Cardinals promote GM Mozeliak to Pres of BB Ops; Mike Girsch new GM
Mozeliak is still expected to oversee the club's baseball operations decisions and remain heavily involved in the department. Girsch joined the Cardinals in 2006, when they also won the World Series, as coordinator of amateur scouting, and he later spent three years in the baseball development department before being promoted. Both will receive contract extensions through 2020.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Cardinals played more high-leverage moments than any other team
Through games of June 30, the Cardinals have played in more high-leverage moments than any other major-league team. The first time the team scored five runs in one inning did not occur until its 69th game of the season. The second time came on June 30 with a five-run fourth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks, in a 10–4 win. According to Fangraphs' leverage index, no team has played under more stress this season than St. Louis. The Cardinals also entered Friday (June 30) tied with the Phillies for the highest percentage of plate appearances (20.7%) in high-leverage spots.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, June, Cardinals played more high-leverage moments than any other team
Forty-three of the Cardinals' games have been decided by two runs or fewer, whereas Friday marked the 22nd time this year that the margin was at least five. All those close games highlight why the team's defense and baserunning continue to come under scrutiny. Little mistakes have big consequences when there's no wiggle room. After the July 1 win (2–1) over the Washington Nationals, the Cardinals now have 44 games of their 80 played decided by two runs or fewer.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, Alex Mejia gets first hit, HR in Wacha birthday win
Starting off July in a game broadcast by Fox, the Cardinals won the three-game series (after besting them 8–1 on June 30) against the #1 team in the NL East, the Washington Nationals (47–33, .588), with a 2–1 win. SS, but playing 2B Alex Mejia, recorded his first major-league hit, and later added his first HR, to support Michael Wacha's win on Wacha'a 26th birthday. Holding the Nationals to four hits, Wacha struck out a season-high nine over a 94-pitch, six-inning outing. The Nationals weren't able to advance a runner to third against him.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, Alex Mejia gets first hit, HR in Wacha birthday win
Washington starter Gio González was just as stingy, as he limited the Cardinals to two hits over seven innings. But he was clipped for a two-out run, driven in by Mejia, in the second inning. Mejia padded the 1–0 lead by blasting a first-pitch home run to open the eighth. The insurance proved to be necessary, too. Trevor Rosenthal, who was being given another look as a closer, allowed Washington's first run and loaded the bases with a two-out walk.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, Alex Mejia gets first hit, HR in Wacha birthday win
Cardinals manager Mike Matheny then turned to Matt Bowman, who notched his first career save by freezing Adrian Sanchez on a full-count fastball in Sanchez's first Major League at-bat. After Paul DeJong extended the second inning by drawing only his second walk in 104 plate appearances, Mejia smacked a single up the middle to drive home Luke Voit, who had earlier beaten out a potential inning-ending double play. Mejia, who was making his second career start, had been hitless in his first three Major League at-bats.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, Alex Mejia gets first hit, HR in Wacha birthday win
In addition to Bowman earning his first save and Mejia tallying his first hits, several other Cardinals reached notable numbers on Saturday: With a fourth-inning single, Yadier Molina extended his hitting streak to 16 games, tying a career high; only Ted Simmons has a longer streak by a Cardinals' catcher with 19 games, Wacha tied Steve Carlton as the second-fastest Cardinals' pitcher to reach 500 strikeouts by getting there in his 106th game, (Lance Lynn, 101 G). Mgr. Matheny earned managerial win No. 500, making him the second-quickest manager in franchise history to reach that mark, achieving the milestone in his 890th game, for a .562 win percentage. He started the 2017 season with a 461–349 (.569) managerial record. Billy Southworth hit 500 wins in 766 games, (.653).


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, Carlos Martinez and Yadier Molina named to All-Star Game Roster
Carlos Martinez and Yadier Molina were named to the All-Star Game reserves (on a July 2 ESPN televised report), in Miami on July 11. Molina made the All-Star team for seven consecutive seasons before having that streak broken last year. Molina leads all NL catchers with 66 starts and 580 innings caught. He also ranks among the top four in total hits (69), home runs (nine) and RBIs (35). He is slashing .273/.308/.409 on the season, entered Sunday riding a 16-game hitting streak. It's his second hitting streak of that length this year.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, Carlos Martinez and Yadier Molina named to All-Star Game Roster
Martinez is a second-time All-Star, though he'll be looking for his first appearance when he travels to Miami. Martinez did not pitch in the All-Star Game two summers ago (2015) after winning a spot on the roster through the Final Vote competition. Martinez entered Sunday's (July 2) showdown against Max Scherzer (Washington Nationals) ranked fourth in the NL in ERA (2.88), second in opponents' batting average (.199), fourth in WHIP (1.07) and sixth in strikeouts per nine innings (10.24). This marks the second consecutive season that the Cardinals have placed two players on the All-Star team.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, Carlos Martinez vs. Max Scherzer
On the night (July 2) he was named to the All-Star team, Carlos Martinez (6–6, 2.88 ERA, 1 Shutout, 121 strikeouts, 10.2 per 9 IP; 1.072 WHIP; .199/.275/.325 opp. slash and .600 opp OPS) pitched against St. Louis native, and Parkway Central High School graduate Max Scherzer (Washington Nationals, in a nationally televised ESPN Sunday Night Baseball Game of the Week. Scherzer is the best pitcher in the NL in terms of ERA (2.06; 212 ERA+), strikeouts (151; 12.0 per 9 IP) and WHIP (0.783). His opp. slash is .164/.227/.292 and .520 opp OPS.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, Carlos Martinez vs. Max Scherzer
Scherzer also has two complete games this year. Looking for his 10th win (9–5), the Chesterfield, MO native and University of Missouri alum has been fantastic of late. He's allowed more than one earned run just once in his last seven starts and reached double-digit strikeouts in six of those games. Scherzer ranks first in right-handed-hitters' batting average against, but Martinez is right behind him in second place (Scherzer, .125; Martinez, .171).


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, Carlos Martinez vs. Max Scherzer
Scherzer was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 43rd round (1,291st overall) in the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not sign, and instead attended the University of Missouri. He was then drafted again in 2006 by the Arizona Diamondbacks, this time in the 1st round as the 11th overall pick. He was Mizzou's first-ever 1st round MLB pick. On January 9, 2012 it was announced that Scherzer would be one of six new inductees to the University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame. While at Mizzou, he won Big 12 Pitcher of the Year in 2005. [ Wikipedia entry for Max Scherzer]


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, Carlos Martinez vs. Max Scherzer
Scherzer and the Nationals beat the Cardinals in an easy 7–2 win. Scherzer (10–5) pitched 7 innings, giving up only 3 hits and no runs, lowering his ERA to an NL-leading 1.94. He opened the evening by striking out seven his first time through the Cardinals' order. He finished the night with 12, marking the 10th time this season—and 59th of his career—that Scherzer reached the double-digit strikeout mark in a game. Scherzer was supported early by Harper, who spoiled the night of Cardinals All-Star starter Carlos Martinez (6–7).


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, Carlos Martinez vs. Max Scherzer
Fellow All-Star OF Bryce Harper crushed a slider over the right-field wall to give the Nationals a two-run lead in the first inning, before golfing a third-inning pitch for another two-run homer, hie 13th career multi-homer game, to punctuate a three-run third. Martinez allowed as many runs on Sunday (five) as he had in his previous five starts combined, with his ERA ballooning to 3.15. Tommy Pham hit a two-run home run (10th), in the eighth inning (Enny Romero) for the only Cardinals runs.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, Halfway through season record
At the half-way point through 2017 after the July 2 game, the Cardinals are 39–42 (.481), in third place in the NL Central, 3.5 G behind the Milwaukee Brewers (44–40, .524), and 1.5 G behind the Chicago Cubs (41–41, .500).


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, Luke Weaver recalled, Mike Mayers optioned
, RHP Luke Weaver was recalled before the game on July 3. Mike Mayers was optioned. Arguably the most dominant pitcher in the organization's Minor League system this year, Weaver made eight starts in 2016. He will not be held back as a long reliever, but will instead be considered a relief option for any situation. He was due to start for Triple-A Memphis today, is rested and ready to pitch as soon as he's needed. At Memphis, he was 7–1 with a 1.93 ERA in 11 starts.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, Luke Weaver recalled, Mike Mayers optioned
He's walked 13, struck out 60, and allowed three home runs in 56 innings. Most recently, he posted a 1.59 ERA in four June starts. Weaver made his Major League debut last August, and finished 1–4 with a 5.70 ERA and 1.596 WHIP. He opened his big league career by allowing three or fewer runs in each of his first six starts, but was pulled from the rotation after two abbreviated mid-September performances. The #1 and 32 prospects are RHP Alex Reyes, and C Carson Kelly.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, Cardinals offense erupts for 14 runs
The offense had their biggest game this season on July 3, with a 14–6 rout () of the Miami Marlins, at Busch Stadium. With more hits in the first three innings than they had in their last two games combined, the Cardinals pummeled starter Jeff Locke and held on for the win. The Cardinals had their most productive first inning (four runs) of the season, and sent 12 batters to the plate during a seven-run third inning that chased Locke.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, Cardinals offense erupts for 14 runs
By the end of that inning, everyone in the Cardinals' lineup had reached base at least once and eight different batters had scored a run. Luke Voit, crushed his first Major League home run (two-runs in the 8th inning) and his first four RBIs. Tommy Pham (batting second) was a perfect 3-for-3 including a triple, 2 RBIs, plus two walks reaching base safely every time at-bat. Yadier Molina also went 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs. The offense has scored 61 runs over the team's last nine games, of which the Cardinals have won seven. Adam Wainwright had a rocky fifth inning but finished it before being pulled, giving up 8 hits and 6 runs (all earned) for his ninth win, and a 6–1 record at home. He also contributed at-bat with a two-run single. He is now batting .226 with a .678 OPS.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, July 4 record
The Cardinals were 103–100–2 (.507) on July 4 games in their history before today's loss. They played a double header every year between 1927 and 1950. The July 3 game started a stretch of 14 consecutive games against sub-.500 teams (FL, NYM, PIT, NYM). After the July 4 loss, they are 23–16 (.590) against teams below .500.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, Fowler activated, Jose Martinez optioned
The Cardinals activated CF Dexter Fowler before the game on July 7, optioning OF José_Martínez. Fowler missed 12 games due to a right heel spur from June 25 – July 6. He ranks 2nd among St. Louis players with 40 runs scored, and his 35 RBI rank 4th. Fowler is batting .245 with 10 doubles, four triples and 13 home runs (2nd among StL hitters). Martinez opened the season on the Major League roster for the first time in his career.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, Fowler activated, Jose Martinez optioned
The right-handed hitter batted .280 with five home runs and 17 RBI this season, and has appeared in 50 games. Martinez has made 26 starts and has two outfield assists, coming in back-to-back games April 17 and 18 vs. Pittsburgh. Martinez missed 17 games (May 7–28) earlier this season with a left groin injury.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, Four Home Runs not enough to win
The July 7 game saw four Cardinals hit Home Runs, but they were all solo shots, and it wasn't enough for Carlos Martinez (6–8) as he gave up five runs in five innings for the second consecutive games, allowing seven hits, losing 6–5 to the New York Mets. Randal Grichuk, Paul DeJong, Dexter Fowler, and Jedd Gyorko all homered, but the team lost for the fourth time in six games. Winner Jacob deGrom is the first pitcher to allow four home runs against the Cardinals and win since Robin Roberts in 1955.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, Four Home Runs not enough to win
Preacher Roe of the Brooklyn Dodgers also accomplished that feat in 1953. The Cardinals hit back-to-back home runs for the third game this season, and hit two sets of back-to-back homers in the same game for the ninth time in club history. The last time that happened was on May 2, 2016, against the Phillies. The last time the Cardinals hit four home runs in a game on two sets of back-to-back home runs that were all solo homers was May 7, 2012, at Arizona.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, DeJong, Pham, Voit get hot at the break
The Cardinals are heading into the All-Star break (43–45, .489) having won or tied their past four series. They are tied with the Cubs for 2nd place, 5.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers (50–41, .549). After 88 games, the team has . In , they scored 779, giving up 712. The players who have helped lead them to their recent success, however, could not have been predicted 88 games ago. In the Cardinals' 6–0 victory over the Mets on Sunday (July 9) at Busch Stadium, Tommy Pham and rookies Paul DeJong and Luke Voit accounted for the club's three home runs and four of its six runs.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, DeJong, Pham, Voit get hot at the break
Paul DeJong, the starting shortstop, stepped up against the Mets, breaking records across the three games. In the series, he went 9-for-12 (.750) with three home runs, five doubles and four RBIs. He is in the midst of a six-game hitting streak, and his eight extra-base hits in the series are the most by a Cardinals' player in a three-game series in the modern era (post-1900). He has 10 Doubles, nine homers, 20 RBIs, and is hitting .313/.331/.602 (.932 OPS, 139 OPS+) at the break.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, DeJong, Pham, Voit get hot at the break
Tommy Pham, who hit his 11th home run Sunday, has 11 stolen bases. He became the first Cardinal since Albert Pujols in 2009 to have at least 10 homers and 10 stolen bases before the break. He is hitting .299/.386/.510 (.895 OPS, 134 OPS+) with 8 Doubles and a Triple, with 34 RBIs.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, DeJong, Pham, Voit get hot at the break
Luke Voit, a St. Louis native, has also posted impressive numbers, hitting .316/.366/.684 (1.050 OPS, 168 OPS+) in 38 at-bats in 14 games. He has five Doubles and eight RBIs in July, including his four-RBI day July 3 against the Marlins.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, Yadier Molina hits HR in All-Star Game
Yadier Molina got the NL its only run in the All-Star Game on July 11, when he hit a home run in the sixth inning off Ervin Santana (Minn. Twins) to tie the game at 1. But the NL lost 1–2 in 10 inn. Reggie Smith was the last Cardinal to hit an All-Star Game home run in the 1974 game. He became the oldest catcher to hit a home run in an All-Star Game, two days before his 35th birthday (July 13), passing Yogi Berra.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"
The famous baseball song, Take Me Out to the Ball Game was first performed in a baseball park: Sportsman's Park before Game 4 of the 1934 World Series by the famous Gashouse Gang players Pepper Martin and his Marvelous Musical Mississippi Mudcats Band. The song was written in 1908, with words by Jack Norworth and music from Albert Von Tilzer. Ironically, neither had attended a baseball game. It was the #1 song for 1908, selling over 6 million sheet copies. Major League Baseball realized that Ladies Days, when women were admitted to the ballpark for free, were no longer necessary.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"
In 1909, the National League banned the practice, assuming women would now attend on a regular basis. "Katie Casey was baseball mad; Had the fever and had it bad; Just to root for the home town crew … On a Saturday, her young beau called to see if she'd like to go, To see a show but Miss Kate said "No, I'll tell you what you can do." That leads into the iconic chorus that everyone sings throughout the summer.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, Wong and Siegrist activated, Mejia and Weaver optioned
At the break on Thu. July 13, the Cardinals activated 2B Kolten Wong and LHP Kevin Siegrist, optioning SS Alex Mejia and RHP Luke Weaver.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, Grichuck on DL, Jose Martinez recalled
Before the game on July 14, LF Randal Grichuk was placed on the DL from a lower back strain. OF José Martínez was recalled.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, Piscotty on DL, Sierra recalled
Before the game on July 15, RF Stephen Piscotty was placed on the DL from a right groin strain. OF Magneuris Sierra was recalled from AA Springfield.


2017 St. Louis Cardinals season, Regular season summary, July, Wacha throws first complete game, shutout
Michael Wacha threw his first complete game and a 5–0 shutout win against the New York Mets at Citi Field on July 18. He gave up only three hits, one walk, and allowing just one runner to reach third base, in the ninth inning with two outs. He pitched after an 11-day layoff to give his troublesome right shoulder additional rest. He threw a career-high 119 pitches. He started the ninth inning at 97 pitches. The shutout was the first by a Cardinals' pitcher on the road since Shelby Miller on June 7, 2014.