The St. Louis Cardinals stunned the Cincinnati Reds with a six-run ninth inning, winning 10-9 after Dane Myers’ two-out drop.
The St. Louis Cardinals (66-63) staged a remarkable comeback Thursday night, scoring six runs in the ninth inning to defeat the Cincinnati Reds (61-67) 10-9 at Great American Ball Park. The decisive blow came when Reds outfielder Dane Myers dropped a fly ball with two outs, opening the floodgates for a rally that turned a likely loss into a dramatic victory.
Cardinals’ Ninth-Inning Surge
Trailing 9-4 entering the final frame, the Cardinals mounted a furious comeback against the Reds’ bullpen. The inning unraveled for Cincinnati when Myers misplayed a routine fly ball, allowing the Cardinals to extend the rally. St. Louis capitalized on the miscue, plating six runs to grab a one-run lead they would not relinquish. The win was a team effort, with contributions up and down the lineup, as the Cardinals improved to 66-63 on the season.
Reds’ Late-Inning Collapse
Cincinnati appeared in control for most of the game, building a lead that seemed insurmountable heading into the ninth. However, the bullpen’s inability to close out the game, compounded by Myers’ costly error, turned a potential win into a gut-wrenching loss. The Reds, now 61-67, have lost three of their last four and sit fifth in the NL Central. The defeat was particularly painful given the team’s playoff hopes are fading with roughly five weeks left in the regular season.
Turning Point: Myers’ Dropped Fly
The game’s pivotal moment occurred with two outs in the ninth inning. Myers, who had been solid defensively throughout the contest, misjudged a fly ball that would have ended the game. Instead, the error kept the inning alive and ignited the Cardinals’ rally. The miscue was a microcosm of Cincinnati’s season, where untimely mistakes have often proven costly.
What It Means for Both Teams
For the Cardinals, the victory provides a massive momentum boost as they head to Philadelphia for a critical three-game series against the Phillies, who own the second-best record in the NL East. St. Louis remains third in the NL Central, but the win keeps them within striking distance of a wild-card spot. For the Reds, the loss is a severe blow to their already slim postseason aspirations. They now travel to Arizona to face the Diamondbacks, who are 67-61 and fighting for a wild-card berth themselves.
- Cardinals scored six runs in the ninth inning to overcome a five-run deficit.
- Dane Myers’ two-out dropped fly ball in the ninth proved decisive.
- St. Louis improved to 66-63, while Cincinnati fell to 61-67.
- The Cardinals head to Philadelphia, while the Reds open a series in Arizona.
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