Hilo’s Kolten Wong collected two hits Monday, his first at the major league level, as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated Milwaukee 8-5.
Wong’s first hit was an infield single pushed deep in the left side of the diamond. Milwaukee shortstop Jean Segura was able to field the deep grounder but his throw to first base was late.
Moments later, the Kamehameha-Hawai`i graduate stole his first base, grabbing second off of Milwaukee pitcher Marco Estrada. He would be stranded, however, as Pete Kozma and Shelby Miller couldn’t bring him home before the inning ended.
In the eighth inning, Wong reached on another infield single, this time to third baseman Aramis Ramirez. The veteran Brewers infielder one-hopped his throw to first base, allowing the rookie second baseman to beat the throw out. He later scored when pinch-hitter Matt Adams grounded a base hit into right center field to score Wong, tying the game at 5.
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Wong’s speed and Adams’ clutch hitting sparked a four-run eighth inning that put St. Louis in the drivers seat for the final two innings.
The 5-foot-9 Wong picked up his second stolen base of the season in the ninth inning after reaching on a fielder’s choice. He beat Milwaukee catcher Jonathan Lucroy’s throw to second base, which was low, to get into scoring position. Daniel Descalso, however, grounded out to second base to strand him at inning’s end.
Wong batted 2-for-5 on the game with a strikeout. His batting average now sits at .154.
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The first at-bat of the game for the former University of Hawai`i standout, who started at second base and hit seventh in the order, came in the second inning. Wong grounded into a fielder’s choice that erased Jon Jay from the bases, but kept Wong on safely at first.
Wong struck out swinging in the fourth inning. It was the third time he struck out on the season.
Game two of the three game series between the Cardinals and Brewers will get underway at 2:10 p.m. Tuesday from Milwaukee’s Miller Park.
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