Cardinals off to worst start in 50 years after suffering three-game sweep to Angels

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The St. Louis Cardinals are one of the most successful franchises in Major League Baseball history, but the Cards are off to their worst start in 50 years. 

The Cardinals lost to the Los Angeles Angels 11-7 on Thursday, dropping to 10-22 on the season. 

Shohei Ohtani, #17 of the Los Angeles Angels, makes his way to the dugout after warming up prior to a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on May 2, 2023, in St Louis, Missouri.  (Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

The start to the season is the worst since 1973, when St. Louis began the year 8-23, according to The Associated Press. 

It was the sixth consecutive loss and the ninth in 10 games for the Cardinals, who were swept by the Angels. 

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"They’re a good team over there," Angels manager Phil Nevin said. "I know their record isn’t indicative of the talent they have, but they’re I know they’re coming, and I never really felt comfortable until the last out, I never do. But resilient, we played great."

Cardinals starting pitcher Jack Flaherty allowed a career-high 10 runs in just 2 ⅓ innings, dropping to 2-4 with an ERA of 6.29. 

Jack Flaherty, #22 of the St. Louis Cardinals, delivers against the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning at Busch Stadium on May 4, 2023, in St. Louis, Missouri.  (Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

"If I was average, or put together an average start, we’d win this game, because guys came out and swung it and gave me two runs," Flaherty said after the game, according to MLB.com. "Then, I can't go put up a shutdown [inning] after we get two runs there, and