Cardinals pitcher, Jack Flaherty ends two games on the basepaths as a pinch runner, a breakdown

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jack Flaherty has an eventful couple of games as a pinch runner for the team. On June 15th, with the Cardinals trailing by one run in the bottom of the ninth inning, Yadier Molina gets an RBI to bring the tying run on base. The Cardinals then pinch-hit Flaherty for Molina, as Flaherty is a faster runner. Kolten Wong then pops up a ball and the Cardinals decide to send Flaherty home from third base. However, Flaherty stumbles a bit on his way home and is easily thrown out at the plate. Flaherty looks relieved to be thrown out, as he admits he is not comfortable as a pinch runner, saying "I'm not a pinch runner, I just did this to get out of that jam." Five days later, the same scenario plays out. With the Cardinals again trailing by one run in the late innings, they pinch-run Flaherty for Molina, who is now on second base as the tying run. Flaherty takes a big lead off the base, trying to ensure he doesn't get thrown out at the plate. However, the Marlins pitcher picks Flaherty off and Flaherty is caught in a rundown, eventually being tagged out. Flaherty watches the replay, visibly upset, acknowledging that he is normally a pitcher, not a baserunner and he is "just losing games" for his team in a way he is not accustomed to. Cardinals manager Mike Shildt and Marlins manager Don Mattingly both look on sympathetically, understanding Flaherty's discomfort in these situations. Flaherty expresses frustration, saying "it just doesn't seem fair" that he is being asked to perform duties he is not prepared for as a starting pitcher. The announcers note that Flaherty is not a practiced baserunner and these situations are clearly outside his comfort zone, leading to the embarrassing outcomes. Despite the miscues, Flaherty's teammates and coaches continue to trust him in these high-leverage pinch-running situations, highlighting his value to the team beyond just his duties as a starting pitcher. However, Flaherty's body language and admitted discomfort show that he is not enjoying these experiences, wishing he could focus solely on his primary role of shutting down opposing offenses from the mound.