ST. LOUIS -- Wil Crowe stood by the pitch choice postgame. Strategy wise, the reasoning was sound.
With the bases loaded and two outs in the 10th inning, Crowe went with a first pitch changeup to Cardinals' shortstop Tommy Edman. He admitted it was probably a bit up, but better up than low and a ball to fall behind. Edman is a bat-to-ball hitter. Get the ground ball and force an 11th inning.
Edman did keep it on the ground, and to the pull side. Perhaps a year ago the shift would have converted it into an out.