Blog

<h3>“Should We Be Here?”—How Jack Buck and the Cardinals Helped America Begin to Heal &nbsp;</h3>Twenty-five years ago today, America awoke to a beautiful September morning—and then watched the world change before its eyes.On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four commercial airplanes. Two were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Another struck the Pentagon, and the fourth crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers and crew members fought back.Nearly 3,000 innocent people were killed. Families were shattered. First responders ran toward danger while others desperately tried to escape it. The images of smoke, fire and collapsing buildings became permanently etched into the nation’s memory.Baseball stopped because America stopped.Games were postponed. Ballparks went dark. Pennant races suddenly seemed insignificant. At a time when families were searching for loved ones and rescue workers were digging through the ruins, no one cared about standings, statistics or scores.But baseball’s absence also reminded us why the game mattered.It could not rebuild the Twin Towers. It could not return the lives that had been taken. It could not erase the fear or grief. But when the time was right, baseball gave Americans a familiar place to gather, remember and take one small step toward living again.“Should We Be Here?” Major League Baseball resumed play on September 17, six days after the attacks.That evening at Busch Stadium, the Cardinals hosted the Milwaukee Brewers. Before the game, legendary Cardinals broadcaster Jack Buck stood behind a microphone and addressed a grieving nation.“Should we be here?” Buck asked.His answer was an emphatic yes.Buck then delivered his powerful poem, For America, reminding everyone that returning to the ballpark was not an act of indifference. It was an act of defiance. Americans could mourn their dead, honor their heroes and still refuse to surrender their way of life to terrorism.The longtime voice of the Cardinals was battling serious health problems at the time, but his voice remained strong. That night, he spoke for far more than St. Louis. He spoke for a country determined to stand again.The Cardinals and Brewers were opponents on the field, but everyone inside Busch Stadium was on the same side. There were American flags, patriotic songs, prayers and tears. Fans stood together not merely as supporters of different teams, but as Americans.A Home Run New York Needed Four nights later, on September 21, professional sports returned to New York City when the Mets hosted the Atlanta Braves at Shea Stadium.The game carried a weight no ordinary baseball game could hold.Police officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel and rescue workers were honored before the first pitch. Mets players wore caps representing the NYPD, FDNY and other first-response agencies. Players from both teams embraced before play began.For a few hours, Shea Stadium became a gathering place for a wounded city.The Mets trailed 2–1 in the bottom of the eighth inning when Mike Piazza stepped to the plate with a runner aboard. Piazza drove a pitch over the center-field wall for a two-run home run, giving New York a 3–2 lead.The crowd erupted.It was only a baseball game, and Piazza never pretended otherwise. But for thousands inside the stadium—and millions watching around the country—it was the first opportunity they had been given to cheer since the attacks.For one brief moment, New Yorkers were not looking at smoke rising from Ground Zero. They were watching a baseball rise over the center-field wall.The Mets held on to win, 3–2, but the final score was almost beside the point. Piazza’s home run became one of the most meaningful moments in baseball history because of what it gave people when they desperately needed it: a reason to stand, embrace and feel something besides sorrow.The jersey Piazza wore that night is now preserved by the National Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the game’s history and America’s story. The Hall of Fame recounts the significance of Piazza’s jersey and home run.A Strike From the President Baseball’s role in the country’s recovery continued into the 2001 World Series between the New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks.Before Game 3 at Yankee Stadium on October 30, President George W. Bush walked onto the field to throw the ceremonial first pitch.The moment carried enormous security concerns. The president wore a bulletproof vest beneath his FDNY jacket. Armed personnel guarded the stadium, and Americans watching at home understood that the country remained under threat.Standing alone on the mound, Bush delivered a firm strike.The crowd roared and began chanting, “USA! USA!”It was more than a ceremonial pitch. The sight of the president standing in the middle of Yankee Stadium sent a message around the world: America was wounded, but America was still standing.The White House later described the moment as a symbol of the nation’s determination to continue living without surrendering to fear. The George W. Bush Presidential Library preserves the historic moment.More Than a Game Baseball did not heal America by itself. That work belonged to grieving families, courageous first responders, rescue and recovery crews, members of the military, chaplains, churches, neighbors and ordinary citizens who carried one another through an extraordinary time.But baseball gave them somewhere to come together.It gave Americans a familiar rhythm when life no longer felt familiar. It placed people of different backgrounds, beliefs and political views in the same stands, beneath the same flag. It allowed a nation to remember that although terror could destroy buildings and take innocent lives, it could not completely destroy the American spirit.For a brief period, team loyalties became secondary. Yankees and Mets caps shared space with FDNY and NYPD caps. Players embraced opponents. Crowds sang “God Bless America.” Stadiums became places of remembrance, prayer and patriotic resolve.Baseball helped America return to normal—but “normal” did not mean forgetting what had happened. It meant finding the courage to move forward while carrying the memory of those who were gone.Never Forget Today, we remember the 2,977 people killed in the attacks, along with the many rescue and recovery workers who later died from illnesses connected to their service at Ground Zero. We remember the firefighters who climbed the stairs while others were coming down. We remember the police officers, emergency personnel, military members and ordinary citizens who answered the call.And we remember a time when baseball helped bring a grieving country together.Jack Buck’s voice in St. Louis, Mike Piazza’s home run in New York and President Bush’s first pitch at Yankee Stadium remain part of the story—not because baseball was more important than the tragedy, but because the game gave America a place to mourn, to cheer and to stand together again.Twenty-five years later, may we remember not only where we were when the towers fell, but also who we became in the days that followed.We were wounded, but united.We were grieving, but resolute.And we promised that we would never forget. Photo Credit: Jack Buck | MLB

“Should We Be Here?”—How Jack Buck Helped America Begin to Heal

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Morning Farm Report: Franklin Fans Eight as Springfield Wins Seventh Straight St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThe Cardinal Chronicle Farm Report is your daily look at the Cardinals’ minor league system — from box scores and standings to standout performances, prospect notes and the daily Top 30 Prospect Watch.The report is now down to two active clubs.The regular season is over for the Peoria Chiefs and Palm Beach Cardinals, leaving Memphis and Springfield as the two Cardinals affiliates still playing.Thursday was a split night.Memphis lost to Norfolk, 9-2, while Springfield held off Arkansas, 4-3, for its seventh straight win.The two active affiliates finished 1-1.Dakota Harris earned Hitter of the Day honors after going 1-for-3 with a home run, an RBI, a run scored and a walk for Memphis. Tanner Franklin, the MLB Pipeline No. 5 prospect, earned Pitcher of the Day honors after working six strong innings for Springfield.Memphis Redbirds — Triple-A Overall Record: 77-64 Second Half: 30-36, 8th in the International League West, 7.0 GB Streak: L2 Status: Playoff-boundNorfolk 9, Memphis 2Memphis dropped its second straight.The Redbirds fell to Norfolk, 9-2, as the Tides scored in five of the first six innings and built a lead Memphis could not chase down. Memphis finished with two runs on eight hits.Dakota Harris supplied the biggest swing for Memphis, hitting his first home run and driving in one. César Prieto went 2-for-4 and drove in a run. Brody Moore had the best overall day in the lineup, going 3-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Chase Davis singled, walked and stole a base.On the mound, Brandt Thompson had a rough night, allowing six earned runs over four innings. Matt Svanson struck out three in one inning, Skylar Hales worked 2.1 scoreless innings, and Hancel Rincon added a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts.Takeaway: Memphis is still playoff-bound, but the Redbirds have now dropped two straight and need to tighten things up before postseason play.Springfield Cardinals — Double-A Overall Record: 77-57 Second Half: 46-20, 1st in the Texas League North, 6.0 games ahead Streak: W7 Status: Playoff-boundSpringfield 4, Arkansas 3Springfield kept rolling.The Cardinals beat Arkansas, 4-3, scoring twice in the third and twice more in the sixth. Arkansas made it uncomfortable with two runs in the ninth, but Springfield held on for its seventh straight win.The Cardinals finished with 10 hits, including five doubles.Josiah Ragsdale, the MLB Pipeline No. 10 prospect, went 1-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. Rainiel Rodriguez, the MLB Pipeline No. 1 prospect, went 2-for-4 and stole his seventh base. Jesús Báez, the MLB Pipeline No. 21 prospect, doubled, while Won-Bin Cho, Jack Gurevitch, Cade McGee and Tre Richardson III also doubled. Richardson drove in two.On the mound, Tanner Franklin gave Springfield the start it needed.Franklin worked six innings, allowing one earned run on five hits and two walks while striking out eight.His final line: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 KDomenic Picone followed with 1.2 scoreless innings, and Michael Watson recorded the final out after Arkansas pushed two across in the ninth.Takeaway: Springfield has won seven straight and continues to look postseason-ready.Peoria Chiefs — High-A Season CompletePalm Beach Cardinals — Low-A Season CompleteTop 30 Prospect Watch Rainiel Rodriguez, MLB Pipeline No. 1, went 2-for-4 with a stolen base for Springfield. His season line is listed at .321 with a .977 OPS, 25 home runs and 85 RBIs.Liam Doyle, MLB Pipeline No. 2, did not pitch Thursday. His season line is listed at 3.76 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 130 strikeouts over 103.0 innings.Tanner Franklin, MLB Pipeline No. 5, worked six innings, allowing one earned run while striking out eight. His season line is listed at 4.09 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 125 strikeouts over 99.0 innings.Josiah Ragsdale, MLB Pipeline No. 10, went 1-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base for Springfield. His season line is listed at .302 with a .976 OPS, 24 home runs and 64 RBIs.Mason Molina, MLB Pipeline No. 18, did not pitch Thursday. His season line is listed at 3.82 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 140 strikeouts over 113.0 innings.Jesús Báez, MLB Pipeline No. 21, went 1-for-4 with a double for Springfield. His season line is listed at .280 with a .908 OPS, 38 home runs and 108 RBIs.Sandro Santana, MLB Pipeline No. 22, did not pitch Thursday. His season line is listed at 2.12 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 94 strikeouts over 59.1 innings.Deniel Ortiz, MLB Pipeline No. 27, went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored for Springfield. His season line is listed at .266 with an .851 OPS, 10 home runs and 40 RBIs.Jack Gurevitch, MLB Pipeline No. 30, went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored for Springfield. His season line is listed at .278 with an .883 OPS, 30 home runs and 92 RBIs.Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day Dakota Harris, 1B, Memphis RedbirdsHarris supplied the biggest swing for Memphis.His final line:1-for-3, HR, RBI, R, BBOne swing. One home run. One bright spot in a Memphis loss.Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day Tanner Franklin, Springfield Cardinals MLB Pipeline Ranking: No. 5Franklin gave Springfield six strong innings and helped push the Cardinals’ winning streak to seven.His final line: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 KSix innings. One earned run. Eight strikeouts. A Springfield win.That is a Pitcher of the Day performance.Final Word The farm report is now simple.Memphis lost. Springfield won. Peoria and Palm Beach are done for the season.Memphis fell to Norfolk, 9-2, and has dropped two straight. Springfield beat Arkansas, 4-3, and has now won seven straight as it continues preparing for postseason play.Two active teams. One win. One loss. The playoff focus continues.Quick Hits: 10 Players, 10 Stats 1. Tanner Franklin, Springfield: 6.0 innings, five hits, one earned run, two walks, eight strikeouts. MLB Pipeline No. 52. Dakota Harris, Memphis: 1-for-3, home run, RBI, run scored, walk.3. Brody Moore, Memphis: 3-for-3, double, run scored.4. Rainiel Rodriguez, Springfield: 2-for-4, stolen base. MLB Pipeline No. 15. Josiah Ragsdale, Springfield: 1-for-4, RBI, run scored, stolen base. MLB Pipeline No. 106. Tre Richardson III, Springfield: 1-for-4, double, two RBIs.7. César Prieto, Memphis: 2-for-4, RBI.8. Matt Svanson, Memphis: 1.0 scoreless inning, two hits, three strikeouts.9. Domenic Picone, Springfield: 1.2 scoreless innings, one hit, no walks, two strikeouts.10. Hancel Rincon, Memphis: 1.0 scoreless inning, no hits, no walks, two strikeouts.That's your morning farm report.

Franklin Fans Eight as Springfield Wins Seventh Straight

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Farm Report: McGee Powers Springfield, Doyle Works Five in Rout St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThe Cardinal Chronicle Farm Report is your daily look at the Cardinals’ minor league system — from box scores and standings to standout performances, prospect notes and the daily Top 30 Prospect Watch.At this point, the report belongs to the two clubs still playing.The regular season is over for Peoria and Palm Beach, leaving Memphis and Springfield as the two active Cardinals affiliates. Both are playoff-bound.Wednesday was a split night.Memphis saw its five-game winning streak end with an 8-4 loss to Norfolk, while Springfield unloaded for a 16-6 win over Arkansas at Route 66 Stadium.The Cardinals’ two active affiliates finished 1-1.Cade McGee earned Hitter of the Day honors after going 2-for-4 with two home runs, four RBIs and two runs scored for Springfield. Liam Doyle, the MLB Pipeline No. 2 prospect, earned Pitcher of the Day honors after working five innings in the Springfield win.Memphis Redbirds — Triple-A Overall Record: 77-63 Second Half: 30-35, 8th in the International League West, 7.0 GB Streak: L1 Status: Playoff-boundNorfolk 8, Memphis 4Memphis could not keep the winning streak going.The Redbirds fell to Norfolk, 8-4, after the Tides broke the game open with five runs in the fifth inning and added two more in the seventh. Memphis finished with four runs on 10 hits.Zach Levenson had the big swing for Memphis, going 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored. His home run was his fourth of the season. Ramon Mendoza went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, while Brody Moore and Graysen Tarlow each added two hits.On the mound, Pete Hansen gave Memphis four solid innings, allowing one run on four hits with no walks and four strikeouts. The game turned in the fifth, when Norfolk scored five runs against Austin Love. Jared Shuster and Ryan Fernandez each worked a scoreless inning late.Takeaway: Memphis had 10 hits, but Norfolk’s five-run fifth inning ended the Redbirds’ five-game winning streak.Springfield Cardinals — Double-A Overall Record: 76-57 Second Half: 45-20, 1st in the Texas League North, 6.0 games ahead Streak: W6 Status: Playoff-boundSpringfield 16, Arkansas 6Springfield put this one away early.The Cardinals beat Arkansas, 16-6, scoring five runs in the first, three in the second, four in the third and four more in the fifth. Springfield finished with 16 runs on 18 hits, including five home runs.Cade McGee had the biggest official line of the day, going 2-for-4 with two home runs, four RBIs and two runs scored.His final line: 2-for-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 RThe top prospect bats were right in the middle of it.Rainiel Rodriguez, the MLB Pipeline No. 1 prospect, went 4-for-5 with a double, a home run, three RBIs and three runs scored. Jesús Báez, the MLB Pipeline No. 21 prospect, homered, drove in four and scored twice. Jack Gurevitch, the MLB Pipeline No. 30 prospect, homered, had two hits and drove in two.Tai Peete added three hits, a double, an RBI and three runs scored. Deniel Ortiz went 2-for-4 with a walk, while Ryan Campos had two hits, an RBI and two runs scored.On the mound, Liam Doyle gave Springfield five innings, allowing one hit, two earned runs and two walks while striking out five.His final line: 5.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 KJosé Davila, Randel Clemente, Nolan Sparks and Jack Findlay handled the final four innings. Springfield pitchers held Arkansas to five hits and struck out 11.Takeaway: Springfield’s lineup overwhelmed Arkansas early, and the Cardinals stretched their winning streak to six games.Peoria Chiefs — High-A Season Over - see you next yearPalm Beach Cardinals — Low-A Season Over - see you next yearTop 30 Prospect Watch Rainiel Rodriguez, MLB Pipeline No. 1, went 4-for-5 with a double, a home run, three RBIs and three runs scored for Springfield. His season line is listed at .321 with a .977 OPS, 25 home runs and 85 RBIs.Liam Doyle, MLB Pipeline No. 2, worked five innings, allowing one hit, two earned runs and two walks while striking out five. His season line is listed at 3.76 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 130 strikeouts over 103.0 innings.Jurrangelo Cijntje, MLB Pipeline No. 9, did not pitch Wednesday. His season line is listed at 5.12 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 154 strikeouts over 123.0 innings.Josiah Ragsdale, MLB Pipeline No. 10, went 0-for-5 for Springfield. His season line is listed at .302 with a .976 OPS, 24 home runs and 64 RBIs.Daniel Eagen, MLB Pipeline No. 17, did not pitch Wednesday. His season line is listed at 4.72 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 157 strikeouts over 122.0 innings.Mason Molina, MLB Pipeline No. 18, did not pitch Wednesday. His season line is listed at 3.82 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 140 strikeouts over 113.0 innings.Tai Peete, MLB Pipeline No. 19, went 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and three runs scored for Springfield. His season line is listed at .302 with a .930 OPS, 13 home runs and 56 RBIs.Jesús Báez, MLB Pipeline No. 21, went 1-for-5 with a home run, four RBIs and two runs scored for Springfield. His season line is listed at .280 with a .908 OPS, 38 home runs and 108 RBIs.Sandro Santana, MLB Pipeline No. 22, did not pitch Wednesday. His season line is listed at 2.12 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 94 strikeouts over 59.1 innings.Deniel Ortiz, MLB Pipeline No. 27, went 2-for-4 with a walk for Springfield. His season line is listed at .266 with an .851 OPS, 10 home runs and 40 RBIs.Chen-Wei Lin, MLB Pipeline No. 29, did not pitch Wednesday. His season line is listed at 5.00 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 118 strikeouts over 102.2 innings.Jack Gurevitch, MLB Pipeline No. 30, went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored for Springfield. His season line is listed at .278 with an .883 OPS, 30 home runs and 92 RBIs.Quick Hits: 10 Players, 10 Stats 1. Cade McGee, Springfield: 2-for-4, two home runs, four RBIs, two runs.2. Rainiel Rodriguez, Springfield: 4-for-5, double, home run, three RBIs, three runs. MLB Pipeline No. 13. Jesús Báez, Springfield: 1-for-5, home run, four RBIs, two runs. MLB Pipeline No. 214. Liam Doyle, Springfield: 5.0 innings, one hit, two earned runs, two walks, five strikeouts. MLB Pipeline No. 25. Jack Gurevitch, Springfield: 2-for-4, home run, two RBIs, run scored. MLB Pipeline No. 306. Tai Peete, Springfield: 3-for-5, double, RBI, three runs. MLB Pipeline No. 197. Zach Levenson, Memphis: 2-for-3, home run, two RBIs, run scored.8. Ramon Mendoza, Memphis: 2-for-4, double, two runs.9. Ryan Campos, Springfield: 2-for-4, RBI, two runs.10. Pete Hansen, Memphis: 4.0 innings, four hits, one earned run, no walks, four strikeouts.Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day Cade McGee, 2B, Springfield CardinalsMcGee had the official Hitter of the Day line after powering Springfield’s 16-run night.His final line: 2-for-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 RTwo home runs. Four RBIs. Two runs scored. A Springfield win.That is a Player of the Day performance.Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day Liam Doyle, Springfield Cardinals MLB Pipeline Ranking: No. 2Doyle gave Springfield five innings and worked with a big early lead.His final line: 5.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 KOne hit allowed. Five strikeouts. Five innings. A Springfield win.That is a Pitcher of the Day performance.The Final Word The farm report is now down to two active clubs, and both are still playing for something.Memphis had its five-game winning streak snapped in an 8-4 loss to Norfolk, but the Redbirds remain playoff-bound. Springfield kept rolling, pounding Arkansas, 16-6, behind five home runs, 18 hits and another strong night from several of the system’s top prospects.Peoria and Palm Beach are done for the season.Memphis fell. Springfield rolled. The postseason picture is now the focus.That is the farm report.

Farm Report: McGee Powers Springfield, Doyle Works Five in Rout

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Cardinals Waste Mathews’ Solid Start, Fall to Giants 2-1 St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurQuinn Mathews gave the St. Louis Cardinals enough.The offense did not.Mathews allowed two solo home runs in the first two innings, then settled in and gave St. Louis six competitive frames Tuesday night at Oracle Park. That should have kept the Cardinals in position to win.Instead, St. Louis spent most of the night searching for one big hit and never found enough offense in a 2-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants.The loss dropped the Cardinals to 72-74 and continued a frustrating pattern on the road trip. St. Louis has played enough good baseball to stay interesting, but not enough clean, complete baseball to gain real ground.Tuesday night was a pitcher’s loss.Mathews took the ball after a strong outing at Dodger Stadium and once again looked like a young starter who belongs in the conversation. The Giants got him early, but they did not get much after that.Bryce Eldridge opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, driving a solo home run to left-center field to give San Francisco a 1-0 lead. Christian Koss followed with another solo home run in the second, sending a fly ball over the wall in left and pushing the Giants ahead, 2-0.That was it.Two swings.Two runs.And against a Cardinals lineup that could not solve Landen Roupp early, that was enough.Mathews could have let the game get away from him after the two early home runs. He did not. The rookie left-hander settled down, worked through six innings and kept the Cardinals within striking distance.He finished with six innings, allowing two runs on five hits. He walked two and struck out four.It was not a dominant line.It was a winning line if the offense does its part.The Cardinals simply could not do enough with it.Roupp kept St. Louis quiet for six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while walking four and striking out two. The walks gave the Cardinals chances, but they never turned them into the kind of inning that could change the game.That was the frustration.St. Louis had traffic. The Cardinals had opportunities. They had enough baserunners to make Roupp work. But they could not produce the hit that flipped the night.That has been the line between winning and losing too often for this club.The Cardinals were not blown out.They were not outclassed.They were one swing short.Again.Masyn Winn returned to the lineup, giving the Cardinals another regular back in the mix, but the offense never found rhythm. Iván Herrera, Alec Burleson, Jordan Walker, Leo Bernal, Nolan Gorman, Thomas Saggese and Nathan Church all gave St. Louis a lineup that looked capable of doing damage.The damage never came.The Giants did not add on after the second inning, and that should have opened the door for St. Louis. Mathews made sure of that. The bullpen followed by keeping the game close, giving the Cardinals chance after chance to get back into it.But the score stayed 2-0 into the ninth.By then, the Cardinals were down to their final chance.They finally broke through against Joel Kuhnel. Nathan Church reached and Bryan Torres singled on a ground ball to right field, scoring Church and cutting the Giants’ lead to 2-1.That brought some late life back into the game.It did not bring enough.The tying run never came home, and San Francisco closed out the one-run win.For the Cardinals, this was the kind of loss that gets heavier because of where they are in the season. September does not leave much room for quiet bats and wasted starts. Every game matters. Every inning matters. Every missed chance matters.This one had all of that.Mathews did his job after the early damage. He gave up two solo home runs, but he did not let either turn into a crooked inning. He kept the Giants from building separation. He forced San Francisco to win with only two runs.That should be enough for a team still trying to stay in the Wild Card picture.It was not.The Cardinals’ offense has had some loud nights lately. They scored 13 runs at Dodger Stadium. They scored eight the next night. They scored 10 in Colorado when Cooper Hjerpe made his debut. The young bats have made September more interesting, and there have been stretches where the lineup looked dangerous from top to bottom.Tuesday was the other side of that.The Cardinals had enough names in the lineup.They did not have enough production.That is the issue. The Cardinals are no longer in a part of the schedule where encouraging signs are enough by themselves. They need wins. They need series wins. They need to take advantage of games where the starter holds the opponent to two runs.Mathews gave them that chance.The lineup let it pass.San Francisco did not need a big offensive night. Eldridge hit one out in the first. Koss hit one out in the second. Roupp and the bullpen handled the rest. That was the entire formula.Simple.Frustrating.Effective.The Cardinals can point to Mathews as a positive. That is fair. His development matters. His ability to settle in after early damage matters. His presence in the rotation gives St. Louis another young arm worth watching down the stretch.But the standings do not care about development alone.They care about results.And Tuesday’s result was another one-run loss on a road trip where St. Louis has had chances to do more than simply hang around.The Cardinals took two of three from the Dodgers, but missed a sweep in the ninth inning. They won a wild series in Colorado, but had to fight through Coors Field chaos to do it. They opened in San Francisco with an extra-inning loss, then followed it with another narrow defeat.That is how a good road trip starts to feel unfinished.The Cardinals are close enough in these games to make them sting.They are not finishing enough of them to make the standings move.Tuesday night was there for them. The pitching was there. The bullpen kept it there. The Giants did not run away with anything.The Cardinals just did not hit enough.That is the simplest way to say it.Mathews gave St. Louis six strong innings after two early solo shots.Torres gave the Cardinals a run in the ninth.But the tying hit never came.The Giants beat the Cardinals, 2-1.And St. Louis let another winnable game slip away.The Cardinal Chronicle Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.

Cardinals Waste Mathews’ Solid Start, Fall to Giants 2-1

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Cardinals Let Five-Run Lead Slip Away, Swept by Giants St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThe St. Louis Cardinals were six outs away from leaving San Francisco with something to show for the trip.Instead, they left Oracle Park swept.St. Louis carried a 6-1 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning Wednesday afternoon, only to watch the Giants send the inning sideways with six runs in a 7-6 loss that completed a three-game sweep.It was not just another loss.It was the kind that feels heavier because of where it landed on the calendar.The Cardinals had already dropped the first two games of the series by one run. Monday went 11 innings before San Francisco walked it off, 5-4. Tuesday turned into a 2-1 frustration, with St. Louis unable to cash in enough chances. Wednesday looked like the game that would stop the slide.For seven innings, it was.Then the eighth happened.The Cardinals had built their lead behind early offense, another big swing from Leo Bernal and a steady start from Andre Pallante. They had taken advantage of Giants mistakes. They had created enough separation that a getaway-day win appeared to be in hand.It was not.San Francisco turned a five-run deficit into a one-run lead in one inning, and the Cardinals never answered.That is how a series win in Los Angeles can become a wasted week in a hurry.St. Louis opened the game already facing pressure. The Cardinals had taken two of three from the Dodgers, then two of three from the Rockies, but the first two games in San Francisco had chipped away at the momentum. Wednesday was supposed to be the salvage game.The Giants struck first.Drew Gilbert doubled to center in the bottom of the first inning, and Bryce Eldridge followed with an RBI single to left, giving San Francisco a 1-0 lead. Pallante limited the inning there, and the Cardinals answered quickly.Joshua Báez doubled to left in the top of the second, continuing to show the kind of power that makes every start worth watching. Nolan Gorman followed with a single to shallow left, scoring Báez and tying the game, 1-1.That was a good sign.The Cardinals did not let the early run sit on them. They got it right back, and in the third inning, Bernal gave them the swing that should have been the headline of the day.Bryan Torres reached ahead of Iván Herrera and Alec Burleson, and Bernal stepped in against Blade Tidwell with a chance to put St. Louis in front. The rookie catcher did more than that. He drove a three-run home run to right field, his second homer in the majors, giving the Cardinals a 4-1 lead.Bernal’s first week in the big leagues has been anything but quiet.He picked up his first MLB hit at Dodger Stadium, drove in two runs in his debut, hit his first big-league home run the next night, and now added another homer in San Francisco. The Cardinals have always liked the defense-first profile, the arm and the catching instincts. But the bat is making sure the conversation does not stop there.That is what makes this stretch important.Bernal is not just surviving September.He is producing.The Cardinals added another run in the fifth. Torres scored when Bernal grounded into a double play, pushing the lead to 5-1. It was not glamorous, but it was another run in a game where every bit of separation mattered.Then St. Louis added one more in the sixth.Thomas Saggese scored on José Fermín’s sacrifice fly to center, and the Cardinals had a 6-1 lead.At that point, the game looked under control.Pallante had given the Cardinals enough. The offense had done its job. The Giants had helped with three errors. St. Louis had the lead, the road getaway game and a chance to avoid the sweep.That is what made the eighth inning so damaging.Cade Winquest opened the inning for St. Louis and ran into trouble. Drew Cavanaugh and Brett Harris reached, Turner Hill walked, and the Giants suddenly had the bases full with the heart of the order coming up.Eldridge singled on a ground ball to center field, scoring Cavanaugh and Harris, and trimming the Cardinals’ lead to 6-3. That was the first crack.It was not the last.George Soriano entered, but San Francisco kept coming. Jonah Cox singled to shortstop, scoring Hill and making it 6-4. Jung Hoo Lee followed with a two-run double to right field, scoring Eldridge and Cox to tie the game, 6-6.Just like that, the five-run lead was gone.Then Shay Whitcomb completed the collapse.Whitcomb doubled to right, scoring Lee and giving San Francisco a 7-6 lead. In the span of one inning, the Cardinals went from protecting a comfortable lead to trailing by a run.That was the game.The Cardinals had one more trip to the plate, but the offense could not undo what had happened. San Francisco closed it down, finished the sweep and sent St. Louis out of town with a loss that will be difficult to explain away.The Giants finished with seven runs on 10 hits. The Cardinals had six runs on seven hits. San Francisco committed three errors and still won.That part stings.A team trying to stay alive in September cannot be handed that many openings and still let the game get away. The Cardinals had the lead. They had the cushion. They had the chance to leave the Bay Area with at least one win.Instead, they were swept by a team playing out the string.That is the harsh part.The Giants deserve credit. They did not roll over. Eldridge drove in three runs and stayed in the middle of everything. Lee delivered the tying double. Whitcomb produced the go-ahead swing. The Giants made the Cardinals earn the final outs, and St. Louis could not get them.But from the Cardinals’ side, this was another reminder of why the season keeps refusing to turn.The young players gave them enough offense to win. Bernal homered. Báez doubled and scored. Gorman drove in a run. Saggese scored. Fermín added the sacrifice fly. Burleson and Herrera were part of the traffic ahead of Bernal’s home run.There were useful at-bats.There were encouraging moments.There was not enough bullpen execution.That has been a recurring problem all season. The Cardinals have had nights when the lineup shows fight, the starter gives them a chance, and the game seems to be moving in the right direction. Then one inning undoes everything.Wednesday’s inning was the eighth.And it could not have come at a worse time.St. Louis is running out of runway. Every loss matters more now, especially losses against clubs below them in the standings. The Cardinals cannot keep pointing to effort, young-player development or close games when the final score keeps landing on the wrong side.Three games in San Francisco.Three one-run losses.One sweep.That is not bad luck anymore.That is missed opportunity.The Cardinals are still getting important looks at players who should matter going forward. Bernal’s emergence is real enough to keep watching. Báez continues to bring loud contact and power potential. Saggese has shown he can be part of the conversation. The roster is younger, and September has value beyond the standings.But the standings still count.And Wednesday hurt them.The Cardinals had a chance to stop the sweep, protect a five-run lead and head home with a little stability. Instead, they left San Francisco with another bullpen scar and another reminder that this season has been defined by games they could not finish.The road trip had started with promise.It ended with frustration.St. Louis beat the Dodgers twice. It took a series in Colorado. Then it went to San Francisco and lost three straight one-run games to the Giants.That is a hard turn.Bernal gave the Cardinals a moment.The bullpen gave it back.The Giants scored six in the eighth.San Francisco won, 7-6.And the Cardinals were swept at Oracle Park in a game they had no business losing.The Cardinal Chronicle Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.

Cardinals Let Five-Run Lead Slip Away, Swept by Giants

Game Day Preview: Cardinals Turn to Pallante to Avoid Sweep in San FranciscoThe St. Louis Cardinals close their three-game series against the San Francisco Giants Wednesday afternoon at Oracle Park, hoping to salvage the finale and keep their fading postseason hopes alive.San Francisco has taken the first two games of the series, beating St. Louis 5–4 on Monday before holding on for a 2–1 victory Tuesday night. The Cardinals enter the finale at 72–74, six games behind Arizona for the final National League Wild Card spot with only 16 games remaining.The math has not eliminated them, but the margin for error has nearly disappeared.Game Information St. Louis Cardinals (72–74) at San Francisco Giants (61–85) Wednesday, September 9, 2026 First pitch: 2:45 p.m. CT Location: Oracle Park, San Francisco Television: Cardinals.TV Cardinals starter: RHP Andre Pallante Giants starter: RHP Blade TidwellConditions should be warm and partly sunny for the afternoon game, with temperatures climbing into the 80s.Probable Pitchers Cardinals: Andre Pallante, RHP 12–6, 3.51 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 98 strikeoutsPallante returns to the mound after working five innings out of the bullpen Saturday in Colorado. He allowed one earned run on two hits in that appearance, which also marked his return from the injured list following a bout of right elbow inflammation.The right-hander has been one of the Cardinals’ most dependable starters this season, posting a 3.51 ERA across 141⅔ innings. His strikeout totals will not jump off the page, but Pallante generates ground balls, limits damaging contact and gives his defense opportunities to make plays behind him.That formula is well suited for Oracle Park, where the deep outfield can suppress home runs but also turn balls in the gaps into extra-base hits. Pallante must keep the Giants on the ground and avoid allowing their young hitters to extend innings.St. Louis will also have to monitor his workload. He threw five innings and 73 pitches Saturday, giving him only three full days of rest before Wednesday’s start.Giants: Blade Tidwell, RHP 0–2, 4.43 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 36 strikeoutsTidwell will make another start for San Francisco after allowing two earned runs over five innings against Pittsburgh last Thursday. He surrendered only two hits and struck out five, but five walks drove his pitch count to 95 and kept him from working deeper into the game.The 25-year-old right-hander brings a deep pitch mix featuring a mid-90s fastball, slider, sweeper and changeup. His breaking pitches can miss bats, but his command remains inconsistent.That should be the Cardinals’ path to creating offense. Tidwell has the stuff to put hitters away when he gets ahead, but he can also create his own trouble by falling behind and issuing walks. St. Louis cannot help him escape by chasing pitches outside the strike zone.Cardinals’ Offense Running Out of Time The Cardinals had opportunities Tuesday night but went just 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position, stranded 10 runners and failed to produce an extra-base hit.Alec Burleson reached base four times, including three walks, but the lineup could not bring him around. St. Louis finally scored with two outs in the ninth when Nathan Church singled and Bryan Torres drove him home, but the rally ended with the tying run at second base.That performance continued a frustrating pattern. The Cardinals have received competitive starting pitching throughout much of the road trip, but their inability to deliver with runners in scoring position has turned several winnable games into losses.Against Tidwell, patience will matter. The Cardinals must make him work, accept the walks he offers and then produce when he is forced back over the plate.Pallante Must Control the Giants’ Young Power Bryce Eldridge remains the most dangerous bat in San Francisco’s changing lineup. The rookie first baseman hit his 16th home run Tuesday, giving the Giants an early lead for the second straight night.Christian Koss followed with his fourth homer of the season, accounting for all the offense San Francisco required.The Giants are far outside the postseason race, but their young roster is playing with energy and something to prove. San Francisco has already secured the series and will be trying to complete its first home sweep of the season.Pallante cannot afford the early mistakes that hurt Quinn Mathews Tuesday. Keeping Eldridge and Rafael Devers from changing the game with one swing will be central to his assignment.Keys to the Game Make Tidwell Throw Strikes Tidwell walked five batters in his last start. The Cardinals must resist expanding the strike zone and force him to prove he can command his entire arsenal.Produce With Runners in Scoring Position St. Louis put enough runners on base Tuesday to win. Ten were left stranded. At this stage of the season, opportunities cannot continue to pass without consequence.Keep the Ball on the Ground Pallante is most effective when his sinker produces early-count ground balls. That will help him control his pitch count and protect a bullpen that has carried a substantial workload during the trip.Contain Bryce Eldridge Eldridge has homered in both games of the series. The Cardinals cannot continue giving San Francisco’s most dangerous young hitter pitches he can drive.The Bottom Line The Cardinals have dropped two straight games to a Giants club that entered the series 26 games below .500. Now they are six games out of a postseason position with only 16 games left.Pallante gives St. Louis a favorable matchup, but starting pitching has not been the primary problem in San Francisco. The offense has scored five runs across the first two games, wasted repeated opportunities and left itself chasing late rallies.The Cardinals are not mathematically finished, but another loss would send them home below .500 after being swept by one of the National League’s weakest teams. If there is any meaningful September baseball left in this season, the Cardinals must begin playing like it Wednesday afternoon.

Cardinals Turn to Pallante to Avoid Sweep in San Francisco

The St. Louis Cardinal Chronicle 

The St. Louis Cardinal Chronicle is dedicated to preserving Cardinals history, covering today’s game, and following the next generation through the minor leagues. Written in the tradition of the old beat writers, it’s baseball with perspective — steady, faithful, and rooted in a lifelong love for the game.

The Cardinal Chronicle, Ray Mileur, Publisher

The Cardinal Chronicle Notebook

“Should We Be Here?”—How Jack Buck Helped America Begin t...

Franklin Fans Eight as Springfield Wins Seventh Straight

Farm Report: McGee Powers Springfield, Doyle Works Five i...

Cardinals Waste Mathews’ Solid Start, Fall to Giants 2-1

Cardinals Let Five-Run Lead Slip Away, Swept by Giants

Cardinals Turn to Pallante to Avoid Sweep in San Francisco