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The Cardinal Chronicle In the Spotlight: The Cardinals’ No. 1 Prospect; Rainel Rodriguez St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThe Tools are Turning into ProductionRainiel Rodriguez is not just holding his place at the top of the Cardinals’ prospect list. He is strengthening the case.The Cardinals’ No. 1 prospect turned in another loud night at the plate, going 4-for-5 for Double-A Springfield and continuing a season that has been built on power, maturity and age-defying production from one of the most important young bats in the organization.At 19 years old, Rodriguez is already producing in Double-A, playing a premium position and carrying one of the loudest offensive profiles in the Cardinals’ system. Baseball Savant lists him as the Cardinals’ No. 1 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 12 overall prospect, a ranking that reflects both the bat and the scarcity of this kind of offensive upside behind the plate.&nbsp;That is what makes Rodriguez different.There are plenty of young hitters with power. There are plenty of catchers with defensive projection. There are very few teenage catchers producing like this in the upper minors.According to Baseball Savant’s available 2026 minor league data, Rodriguez has hit .299 with a .390 on-base percentage, .518 slugging percentage and .908 OPS across two levels this season, adding 22 doubles, 18 home runs, 61 RBI, 72 runs scored and 10 stolen bases. At Double-A Springfield, he has posted a .293/.373/.518 line with 14 home runs and 40 RBI.&nbsp;That is premium production for a 19-year-old catcher facing older competition.The bat remains the carrying tool, and the scouting grades support what the numbers are showing. Baseball Savant’s 2026 scouting report gives Rodriguez a 55 hit tool, 65 power, 55 arm and 60 overall grade. The report notes that he relies on strength and bat speed to punish baseballs, with a 104.2 mph 90th-percentile exit velocity at Single-A, while regularly elevating and pulling the ball for power.&nbsp;That is the heart of the profile. Rodriguez does not need a perfect swing to do damage. He has the strength to impact the baseball, the bat speed to catch up to velocity and the approach to keep himself from becoming a one-dimensional slugger.The power has been obvious since he entered professional baseball. Rodriguez debuted in the Dominican Summer League in 2024 and hit .345 with a .462 on-base percentage, .683 slugging percentage and 1.145 OPS, adding 10 home runs and 38 RBI in only 41 games. In 2025, he continued the climb by hitting .276/.399/.555 with 20 home runs and 63 RBI across three levels.&nbsp;The Cardinals challenged him again this season, and Rodriguez has responded.He opened the season at High-A Peoria and handled the level, batting .311/.430/.519 with four home runs, 21 RBI and nearly as many walks as strikeouts. MLB Pipeline noted in May that Rodriguez was the youngest player at High-A, more than three years younger than the average Midwest League player, while still producing as one of the top young sluggers in the minors. (MLB.com)Then came Double-A.That is where many young hitters get exposed. That is where pitchers can spin the ball, sequence better and find holes in a swing. Rodriguez had to adjust, and there were stretches where the adjustment showed. His strikeout rate jumped. The league challenged him. The results were not always immediate.But the important part is that he kept adjusting.MLB Pipeline noted after his June two-homer game at Springfield that Rodriguez had been battling some early Double-A growing pains, but also pointed to an improved line-drive rate, a reduced ground-ball rate and some poor batted-ball luck. The same report emphasized his age, noting that he was the second-youngest regular at Double-A at the time. (MLB.com)That context matters.When a 19-year-old catcher struggles for two weeks at Double-A, that is development.When he starts hitting again, that is progress.Rodriguez’s latest 4-for-5 performance is another sign that the bat is catching up to the level. It is one thing to hit the occasional long home run. It is another to stack quality at-bats, use the whole field, reach base and continue producing while pitchers are actively making adjustments against him.That is what separates prospects from suspects.There are still areas to monitor. Rodriguez is not a finished defensive catcher. Baseball Savant’s report notes that he remains a work in progress behind the plate, especially with framing, though it also credits him for quick, accurate throws and for throwing out at least 30 percent of attempted base stealers in each of his first two full seasons.&nbsp;That is the development question.Can Rodriguez remain behind the plate long-term?If he can, his value changes dramatically.A bat like this at first base or designated hitter would still be interesting. A bat like this behind the plate is something much bigger. That is why the Cardinals have to be patient with the defensive development, even as the offense keeps pushing the timeline forward.The temptation will be to focus only on the bat, especially when he keeps having nights like last night. But for Rodriguez, the full profile matters. His future ceiling is tied not simply to how much he hits, but where he plays while doing it.The Cardinals already have catching depth in the system. Leo Bernal gives them a more advanced defensive profile. Ivan Herrera has shown what a bat-first catcher can bring at the major league level, though his own defensive questions remain part of the conversation. That makes Rodriguez especially fascinating.He may eventually become the best offensive catcher in the organization.He may also become the most important position-player prospect in the system.FanGraphs currently lists Rodriguez as a 55 future-value prospect and one of the top prospects in baseball, placing him among a tier of high-upside young players with real impact potential.&nbsp;That is not hype for the sake of hype.That is a reflection of performance, age, position and offensive ceiling.Rodriguez has produced at every stop. He dominated the DSL. He slugged his way through the lower minors. He reached High-A as a teenager and looked comfortable. Now, at Double-A, he is answering one of the most important questions in player development: what happens when the league punches back?So far, Rodriguez keeps getting back in the box and punching back harder.That is why a 4-for-5 night is more than a box-score note.It is another marker in a season that has continued to validate the Cardinals’ belief in him. It is another reminder that the system’s No. 1 prospect is not sitting on reputation. He is earning the ranking.The Cardinals have several exciting bats in the system, from Joshua Báez and Jesús Báez to Alexander Frias, Josiah Ragsdale and others. But Rodriguez stands apart because of the complete package: age, position, power, production and projection.A 19-year-old catcher with a .900-plus OPS across two levels is not common.A 19-year-old catcher producing in Double-A is even less common, and a 19-year-old catcher with 65-grade power and enough arm strength to stay behind the plate is the kind of player who can change the future of an organization if the development continues.That is the spotlight now.Rainiel Rodriguez is not simply the Cardinals’ No. 1 prospect because he has loud tools.He is the Cardinals’ No. 1 prospect because the tools are turning into production, the production is holding up against older competition, and the profile keeps getting more valuable the longer he stays behind the plate. The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports &amp; MiLB Today Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary: www.cardinalchronicle.comPhoto Credit: Rainiel Rodriguez, Springfield Cardinals | MLB

Rainel Rodriguez, the Tools are Turning into Production

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day: Yhoiker Fajardo Gives Springfield Six Strong Innings St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurYhoiker Fajardo gave Springfield exactly what it needed Tuesday night.The Cardinals right-hander worked six innings, allowing seven hits, one earned run and two walks while striking out five in Springfield’s 4-3 win over Arkansas.His final line:6.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 KIt was not a spotless outing, but it was a winning one.Fajardo had traffic to manage, but he kept Arkansas from putting together the big inning. He allowed a run in the fifth, but by then Springfield had already given him a lead, and he did enough to hand the game to the bullpen with the Cardinals still in front.That matters.On a night when Springfield needed stability, Fajardo provided it. He worked through six innings, kept the ball in the park, limited the damage and gave the Cardinals a chance to win a close road game.The offense helped him out with 13 hits, led by Rainiel Rodriguez, who went 4-for-5 with a double and two RBIs. But Fajardo set the tone from the mound.Six innings. One earned run. Five strikeouts. A road win.That is a good night’s work.Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day: Yhoiker Fajardo, RHP, Springfield CardinalsFinal Line: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports &amp; MiLB Today Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary: www.cardinalchronicle.comPhoto Credit: Yhoiker Fajardo, Springfield Cardinals | MLB

MiLB Pitcher of the Day: Yhoiker Fajardo

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day: Victor Scott II Sparks Memphis Comeback Bid St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurVictor Scott II did a little bit of everything Tuesday night for Memphis.The Redbirds center fielder went 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBIs, a walk and two stolen bases in Memphis’ 6-5, 10-inning loss to Jacksonville at AutoZone Park.His final line: 2-for-3, 3B, 2 RBI, BB, 2 SBMemphis fell behind early, trailing 5-0 after three innings, but Scott helped lead the push back. His speed showed up. His bat showed up. His ability to create pressure showed up.Scott tripled for the second time this season, drove in his 15th and 16th runs, and stole his 15th and 16th bases.That is the kind of line that does not need much explanation.Two hits. A triple. Two RBIs. Two stolen bases. Three times on base.The Redbirds nearly turned it into a comeback win, scoring once in the third, once in the seventh and three times in the eighth to tie the game. Jacksonville eventually pushed across the deciding run in the 10th, but Scott’s night stood out in the loss.For a player whose game is built around speed, defense and pressure, this was a good reminder of what he can do when he is reaching base and forcing the action.Memphis did not get the win.Victor Scott II still earned the spotlight.Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day: Victor Scott II, CF, Memphis RedbirdsFinal Line: 2-for-3, 3B, 2 RBI, BB, 2 SB The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports &amp; MiLB Today Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary: www.cardinalchronicle.comPhoto Credit: Victor Scott II, Memphis Redbirds | MLB

MiLB Player of the Day: Victor Scott II

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Farm Report: Scott II Sparks Memphis, Fajardo Deals, W 2, L 2 St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThe Cardinal Chronicle Farm Report is your most complete daily look at the Cardinals’ minor league system — from box scores and standings to standout performances and prospect notes.Tuesday’s farm report had two one-run losses, two one-run wins and plenty of late-inning tension.Victor Scott II earned Player of the Day honors for Memphis, reaching base three times, tripling, driving in two and stealing two bases. Yhoiker Fajardo earned Pitcher of the Day honors after giving Springfield six strong innings in a 4-3 win at Arkansas.Palm Beach walked off Fort Myers, while Peoria dropped its fourth straight despite a late push.The full-season affiliates finished 2-2.Memphis Redbirds — Triple-A Overall Record: 67-54 Second Half: 20-26, 8th in the International League West, 8.0 GB Streak: L1Jacksonville 6, Memphis 5 — 10 inningsMemphis dug an early hole, fought all the way back, and then lost it in extra innings.Jacksonville scored two runs in the first, one in the second and two more in the third to build a 5-0 lead. Memphis answered with one in the third, one in the seventh and three in the eighth to tie the game before Jacksonville scored the deciding run in the 10th.Victor Scott II had the top offensive line in the system, going 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBIs, a walk and two stolen bases.His final line: 2-for-3, 3B, 2 RBI, BB, 2 SBScott’s speed showed up across the box score. He reached base three times, drove in two and stole his 15th and 16th bases.Colton Ledbetter hit his 10th home run of the season. César Prieto went 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored, while Chase Davis had two hits and scored three runs. Ramón Urías doubled and drove in a run, and Thomas Saggese added an RBI.On the mound, Pete Hansen had a rough start, allowing five runs over three innings. But the bullpen gave Memphis a chance. Austin Love, Skylar Hales and Cade Winquest combined for five scoreless innings, with Love striking out three and Winquest adding two strikeouts over two hitless frames.Takeaway: Memphis showed fight after falling behind 5-0, but the comeback stalled in extras. Scott’s speed and run production were the bright spots.Springfield Cardinals — Double-A Overall Record: 59-55 Second Half: 28-18, tied for 1st in the Texas League North Streak: W1Springfield 4, Arkansas 3Springfield opened its series at Arkansas with a tight 4-3 win, and Yhoiker Fajardo set the tone.Fajardo earned Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day honors after working six innings, allowing seven hits, one earned run and two walks while striking out five.His final line: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 KIt was not a no-hit type of night, but it was steady. Fajardo kept Arkansas from building a big inning and handed Springfield the lead.The Cardinals offense gave him support with 13 hits. Rainiel Rodriguez was the offensive star, going 4-for-5 with a double and two RBIs, raising his average to .310 and OPS to .925. He also pushed his RBI total to 44.Tre Richardson III went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Jack Gurevitch added three hits. Tai Peete had a hit and scored, Ryan Campos singled and scored, and Jesús Báez drove in his 43rd run.The bullpen made it interesting. José Davila threw a scoreless seventh, Joseph King allowed two runs in the eighth, and Sandro Santana closed it out with a scoreless ninth and two strikeouts.Takeaway: Fajardo gave Springfield six strong innings, Rodriguez carried the offense, and Santana finished it off.Peoria Chiefs — High-A Overall Record: 55-59 Second Half: 23-25, 5th in the Midwest League West, 6.5 GB Streak: L4Lansing 6, Peoria 5Peoria keeps getting close, but close is not enough right now.The Chiefs trailed 5-2 after seven innings, scored twice in the eighth and once in the ninth, but came up one run short in a 6-5 loss at Lansing.Caden Ferraro hit his first home run for Peoria, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Jalin Flores drove in his 79th run of the season. Tristan Bissetta doubled, drove in a run, walked and stole his first base.Brayden Smith doubled and scored before being ejected in the seventh. Yordalin Peña added a hit, while Anyelo Encarnación came off the bench and drove in a run.On the mound, Jack Martinez gave Peoria five solid innings, allowing two hits, one earned run and three walks with one strikeout.His final line: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 KThe game got away in the bullpen. Nelfy Ynfante allowed four runs over 1.2 innings, and Patrick Galle allowed one more in the eighth.Takeaway: Martinez gave Peoria a chance, and Ferraro supplied a needed swing, but the Chiefs have now lost four straight.Palm Beach Cardinals — Low-A Overall Record: 57-58 Second Half: 24-25, 2nd in the Florida State League East, 8.0 GB Streak: W1Palm Beach 8, Fort Myers 7Palm Beach saved its best swing for the end.The Cardinals trailed Fort Myers 7-5 entering the bottom of the ninth, then scored three runs to walk it off, 8-7, at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.Ryan Mitchell had a strong all-around game, going 2-for-3 with an RBI, two walks, a run scored and two stolen bases. Trevor Condon went 2-for-5 with his first Palm Beach double, a run scored and his first stolen base.Matthew Miura went 1-for-2 with two RBIs, while Owen Henne singled, walked twice and drove in a run. Sebastian Dos Santos walked twice, drove in a run, scored twice and stole his 17th base. Jayden Lobliner added an RBI and his first stolen base.Palm Beach was aggressive all night, stealing six bases as a team.On the mound, the early innings were rough. Andrew Dutkanych IV allowed three runs over 3.1 innings, and Justin Militello allowed two more in two-thirds of an inning. But Branneli Franco gave Palm Beach a chance, throwing four scoreless innings with three hits, two walks and four strikeouts.His final line: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 KBrian Garmon allowed two runs in the ninth, but the offense picked him up with the walk-off rally.Takeaway: Palm Beach needed a late answer and found one. The Cardinals walked it off, ran wild on the bases and got four important scoreless innings from Franco.Quick Hits: 10 Players, 10 Stats 1. Victor Scott II, Memphis: 2-for-3, triple, two RBIs, walk, two stolen bases.2. Yhoiker Fajardo, Springfield: 6.0 innings, seven hits, one earned run, two walks, five strikeouts.3. Rainiel Rodriguez, Springfield: 4-for-5, double, two RBIs.4. Tre Richardson III, Springfield: 3-for-4 with two runs scored.5. Jack Gurevitch, Springfield: 3-for-5.6. Ryan Mitchell, Palm Beach: 2-for-3, RBI, two walks, two stolen bases.7. Trevor Condon, Palm Beach: 2-for-5, double, run scored, stolen base.8. Caden Ferraro, Peoria: 2-for-4, first Peoria home run, two RBIs.9. Austin Love, Memphis: 2.0 scoreless innings, no hits, three strikeouts.10. Branneli Franco, Palm Beach: 4.0 scoreless innings, three hits, four strikeouts.Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day Victor Scott II, CF, Memphis RedbirdsScott gets the nod after filling up the box score in Memphis’ 10-inning loss.His final line: 2-for-3, 3B, 2 RBI, BB, 2 SBHe reached base three times, drove in two runs and used his speed to create pressure all night.Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day Yhoiker Fajardo, RHP, Springfield CardinalsFajardo gave Springfield the best start of the day and helped the Cardinals open their series with a road win.His final line: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 KIt was a steady, winning start.The Final Word Tuesday was a night of tight margins.Memphis erased a five-run deficit but lost in 10. Springfield held on behind Fajardo and a big night from Rainiel Rodriguez. Peoria pushed late but lost by one. Palm Beach delivered the walk-off and turned the night into a split for the system.The affiliates finished 2-2.Victor Scott II brought the speed. Yhoiker Fajardo brought the steady start. Rainiel Rodriguez collected four hits. Palm Beach walked it off.That is the farm report. The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports &amp; MiLB Today Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary: www.cardinalchronicle.comPhoto Credit: Victor Scott II, Memphis Redbirds | MLB

Scott II Sparks Memphis, Fajardo Deals, W 2, L 2

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE De La Cruz Walks Off Cardinals in Nightcap St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThe St. Louis Cardinals had a chance to sweep a doubleheader Monday night at Great American Ball Park, but Cincinnati came back late and beat St. Louis, 6-5, in 10 innings on Elly De La Cruz’s first career walk-off hit.The Cardinals won the opener, 2-1, behind a strong bullpen effort and Riley O’Brien’s National League-leading 31st save. In the nightcap, St. Louis built a 4-1 lead, went back in front in the eighth and still could not finish it.Dane Myers tied the game with a two-out solo home run in the ninth, and De La Cruz ended it in the 10th by sending a ball past third baseman Blaze Jordan and into the left-field corner.It was a missed chance for the Cardinals, who came into Cincinnati with momentum after taking two of three from the Cubs at Wrigley Field and then winning the first game of Monday’s doubleheader.Andre Pallante did not have a clean night, but he gave the Cardinals six innings and kept them in position to win. He allowed four runs on 10 hits, walked one and struck out five. The Reds had traffic throughout his outing, but Pallante limited the damage until the sixth.Cincinnati took a 1-0 lead in the first when De La Cruz, Sal Stewart and JJ Bleday opened the inning with consecutive singles. Eugenio Suárez followed with a sacrifice fly, but Pallante kept the inning from getting away by getting Michael Toglia to line into a double play.Iván Herrera helped Pallante in the third with a notable defensive play. After De La Cruz walked with one out, Herrera threw him out trying to steal second. Spencer Stewart later struck out to end the inning, and the Reds came away empty.For Herrera, whose throwing game has been under the microscope for much of the season, it was a welcome moment behind the plate. It did not change the final result, but it belonged in the story.Herrera then led off the fourth with a home run to center field, tying the game at 1. Alec Burleson followed with a single, Jordan Walker added another hit, and Joshua Báez reached on a fielder’s choice that moved Burleson to third. Masyn Winn singled to right, scoring Burleson and giving the Cardinals a 2-1 lead.The Cardinals added two more in the sixth. Walker doubled to left, Báez moved him to third with a deep fly ball, and Nathan Church singled to left-center to make it 3-1. Bryan Torres walked, and Blaze Jordan singled to left to score Church, although Torres was thrown out trying to advance to third.That gave St. Louis a 4-1 lead, but the Reds answered in the bottom half. Bleday and Suárez singled, Toglia doubled home Bleday, and Héctor Rodríguez followed with a two-run single to center that tied the game at 4.The Cardinals regained the lead in the eighth. Walker singled, stole third and scored on Torres’ infield single, putting St. Louis ahead, 5-4.Peter Strzelecki worked a scoreless seventh and got through the eighth despite Suárez doubling off the third-base bag. The Cardinals could not add insurance in the ninth, however, and Myers made them pay in the bottom half, tying the game with a solo homer to left-center.St. Louis had the automatic runner at second in the 10th and could not bring him home. Báez struck out, José Fermín walked, Winn struck out, and Everson Pereira reached on a fielder’s choice that ended the inning.Cincinnati took advantage in the bottom half. With the winning run in scoring position, De La Cruz delivered his first career walk-off hit, giving the Reds the win and leaving the Cardinals with a split instead of a sweep.The loss wasted a strong offensive night from Walker, who went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and his 17th stolen base. Herrera homered, walked and threw out De La Cruz at second. Wetherholt had two hits, and Torres reached three times with an RBI.The Cardinals finished with 11 hits but left 10 men on base and struck out 12 times. Those missed chances mattered in a one-run game.The doubleheader opener still counts, but the nightcap stings. The Cardinals had a three-run lead in the sixth, a one-run lead in the ninth and the automatic runner at second in the 10th. They were in position to sweep the day and turn the first two games in Cincinnati into a bigger statement.Instead, they settled for a split.There is still plenty left in the series, but games like this matter in August. The Cardinals did enough to put themselves in position to win. They did not do enough to finish it.Reds 6, Cardinals 5.A doubleheader split for St. Louis.A missed opportunity in the nightcap. The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports &amp; MiLB Today Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary: www.cardinalchronicle.comPhoto Credit: Elly De La Cruz, Cincinnati Reds | MLB

De La Cruz Walks Off Cardinals in Nightcap

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE O’Brien Slams Door as Cardinals Edge Reds St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurAlec Burleson doubled home two runs in the first inning, Quinn Mathews struck out seven over four innings, and Riley O’Brien finished it with a dominant ninth as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Cincinnati Reds, 2-1, Monday afternoon at Great American Ball Park.The win opened a five-game series and gave St. Louis the first game of a split doubleheader. It also continued a strong stretch for the Cardinals, who came into Cincinnati after taking two of three from the Cubs at Wrigley Field.Burleson gave the Cardinals all the offense they would need before Cincinnati came to bat. Joshua Báez and Iván Herrera scored on his sharp double to right field off Kent Emanuel, putting St. Louis ahead, 2-0, in the first inning.The Cardinals had chances to extend the lead but could not add on. They finished with seven hits, went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base. That kept Cincinnati close, but the pitching staff made the early lead stand.Mathews worked through traffic in his second major league appearance. The left-hander allowed one run on two hits, walked three and struck out seven, setting a career high in strikeouts. His only mistake was a fourth-inning solo home run by Dane Myers, which cut the Cardinals’ lead to 2-1.The pitch count kept Mathews from working deeper into the game, but he showed the swing-and-miss ability that has followed him through the Cardinals’ system. He threw 95 pitches, 55 for strikes, and left with the Cardinals still in front.From there, the bullpen handled the rest.Luis Gastelum struck out two in a scoreless fifth. Gordon Graceffo worked a clean sixth. George Soriano handled the seventh, and Ryne Stanek protected the lead in the eighth.That left the ninth for O’Brien, who has become one of the most important pitchers on the roster. He struck out the side in order to earn the save, closing out Cincinnati without allowing the Reds to put the tying run in motion.O’Brien now leads the National League in saves, continuing a season in which the 31-year-old right-hander has turned himself into one of the most dependable closers in the league.The Reds managed only three hits and struck out 13 times. Elly De La Cruz went hitless with four strikeouts, while Cincinnati’s only run came on Myers’ homer.For the Cardinals, the offensive frustration was real. Jordan Walker doubled, Blaze Jordan tripled, and Everson Pereira and Masyn Winn also added hits, but St. Louis did not score after the first inning. In a tighter game, that usually becomes a problem.Monday, the pitching staff covered it.The Cardinals did not win with a big offensive day. They won with one timely swing, a promising start from Mathews and five scoreless innings from the bullpen.In August, that counts the same.Cardinals 2, Reds 1.That’s a winner. The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports &amp; MiLB Today Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary: www.cardinalchronicle.comPhoto Credit: Riley O'Brien, St. Louis Cardinals | MLB

O’Brien Slams Door as Cards Edge Reds

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.