As the trade deadline approaches, Dustin May put on a performance that could become his final appearance as a St. Louis Cardinal. Facing the Chicago Cubs, the right-handed pitcher dominated the opposition in a five-inning start, allowing just one hit without surrendering a run. He also fanned three batters, showcasing the kind of control and precision that teams in contention will likely covet as the deadline nears.
Despite May's stellar work on the mound, the Cardinals offense remained silent for most of the game. Wednesday’s contest, like many this season, highlighted the ongoing issue for the team — the struggle to consistently put runs on the board. While May's performance was encouraging, the Cardinals' bats failed to match his dominance, with the 6th inning briefly offering a spark before fading away.
A Near-Miss in the 6th
The glimmer of potential came in the bottom of the 6th inning. Jordan Walker, one of the team's rising stars, reached base with a leadoff single. Iván Herrera, whose name has surfaced in trade discussions with the Yankees, advanced Walker with a groundout to the right side. Alec Burleson followed with a single into right field, but it did not bring in the run as Walker remained stranded at third. With runners on the corners and one out, Masyn Winn struck out, and Jose Fermin was intentionally walked to load the bases. Blaze Jordan, the last hope of the inning, failed to deliver, popping out to the catcher to end the threat.
This moment captured the essence of the Cardinals' season. There was a clear effort to push through the pressure, but the result was the same as so many before — the momentum stalled, and the team left itself in a familiar situation, with no runs to show for it.
With May off the mound, the Cardinals' bullpen continued to perform at a high level. Justin Bruihl maintained the shutdown in the 6th, keeping the Cubs in check. Ryne Stanek, himself a potential trade target, came in for the 7th and faced a tense moment. He issued a two-out walk to Michael Conforto, and a wild pitch sent the Cubs player to second base. Stanek then walked Ramirez, loading the bases. He ended the inning by firing a 99 mph fastball past Dansby Swanson for the out. In the 8th, George Soriano stepped in with a walk to Suzuki as the only mark against him, keeping the game scoreless.
Tension peaked in the 9th inning when Riley O'Brien entered with the challenge of preserving the shutout. He quickly got Bregman out on a weak fly to right field. Ian Happ, the Cardinals' nemesis, struck out after falling for an 81 mph sweeper. Conforto was plunked on the big toe with a wild pitch, bringing in pinch-runner Justin Dean, who moved to second on an error. The Cardinals intentionally walked Ramirez to bring up Swanson, who grounded out to right field, preserved by Jordan Walker's catch. With the game tied and heading into extra innings, the burden fell on the underdog lineup.
In the 10th inning, Masyn Winn started the offense with a strikeout. José Fermin, who has shown flashes of promise, also failed to produce. The task fell to Blaze Jordan, who stepped in with the game on the line. Facing a slow 77 mph curveball, Jordan sent it into the left field corner for a double. The ball sliced along the warning track, and it was enough to bring in Herrera for the game-winning run. The Cardinals secured a dramatic walk-off victory, a fitting end to the night.