Before Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley’s stiffening finger flipped the game, and before an offense’s chill surrendered a series, the defining moment of the first game of the National League Wild Card between the Cardinals and the Phillies, for one fleeting moment, was rookie Juan Yepez leaping for joy.
Yepez lifted off, flying Air Jordan style to give teammates high fives in the sky after he crossed home plate. The Cardinals were leading 2-0 in the seventh inning. They were six outs away from starting a best-of-three series one up. Juan up, and every Cardinals fan in Busch Stadium followed his lead.