How necessity revealed recently acquired reliever's audition for future role: Cardinals Extra

CINCINNATI — Even in the bullpen — perhaps especially in the bullpen — necessity becomes the mother of experimentation and sometimes revelation.

Attempting to avoid using two right-handed setup relievers, Kyle Leahy and Riley O’Brien, manager Oli Marmol had to navigate late innings in Friday night’s close game with relievers not often used in such high-leverage spots for the Cardinals this season. Jorge Alcala is still in his first month with Cardinals organization and was last seen pitching the eighth inning of a game the Cardinals trailed by five runs at the time. Yet, there he was in the sixth Friday, tasked with holding fast to a one-run lead.

“It’s one of those things where there’s higher ceiling than some others, so you want to continue to take a look at how he handles different la