ARIZONA (KMOX) - Yadier Molina's game-winning double is going to be the highlight most replayed after Thursday's 10th inning victory for the St. Louis Cardinals. But his work behind the plate is what kept them in the game.
He turns 39 in July and currently has a .301 batting average with seven home runs and a .886 OPS this. Ageless doesn't even begin to describe it.
His latest father-time defying act came in the 10th inning of a tied game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Paul Goldschmidt was on second and Yadi delivered with the game-winning, RBI double.
But before that, Molina is the main reason the Cardinals even got to extra-innings. After starting pitcher Carlos Martinez threw six no-hit innings, but then loaded the bases with nobody out. Molina was there to save some pitches in the dirt from going to the backstop.
Then he guided reliever Ryan Helsley through the jam to escape with a 4-3 lead. And later made some saves on would-be Giovanny Gallegos wild pitches.
Cardinals outfielder Tyler O'Neill did his best to describe what Yadi did (he also hit a very long home run in his first game back off the IL):
"He’s Iron Man back there," Cardinals outfielder Tyler O’Neill said of Molina. "He’s a walking legend. Everything he does is noticed by the boys in the locker room. He comes up in big situations like that and is able to get the job done time and time again. So, something to look up to."
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