Yadier Molina collects career hit number 2,000 Thursday night

Yadier Molina added another feather to the cap filled with his Hall of Fame credentials Thursday night at Busch Stadium.

In the bottom of the seventh inning of the Cardinals game against the Brewers, Molina lined a single into right-center field for the 2,000th hit of his Major League Baseball career. A vintage Yadi base hit, the smile on his face when it left his bat—and the subsequent fist bump as he made his way to first base—suggested Molina instantly knew he’d reached the achievement only attained by 11 other catchers throughout MLB history.

HAS YADIER MOLINA SUCCESSFULLY FRAMED HIS HALL OF FAME CASE?

In 16 seasons in St. Louis, Cardinal pitchers have posted a 3.68 ERA in the innings Yadier Molina has caught. During those same 16 years, Redbirds hurlers have logged a 4.12 ERA in the innings that he hasn’t caught. That’s a remarkable difference of nearly a half a run per game! The spread validates the reputation that Molina is superb at handling a pitching staff and calling a game. The question here is how unusual that is for a top flight backstop.