Just a weird decision by the new skipper to use Richards. Cimber and Garcia were both available. Phelps and Mayza too, they only threw 3 and 6 pitches the day prior.
So with Romano, Cimber, Garcia, Phelps, and Mayza all usable why use Richards in the 5th inning of a close game in a high leverage spot? Makes no sense.
Even pulling Gausman is a questionable move. It was Albert Pujols. Yeah Guasman wasn't on his A game but it's Albert Pujols vs. Kevin Gausman. It should not matter at all that Pujols managed to poke a couple of hits off him earlier in the game.
So this is decision #2 that was bad by John S. First one being when he used Banda in that one run game.