After completing a three-game collaring of the Cubs on the thunderous, stormy evening of June 28, the Cardinals were safely elevated above the turbulence.
The injuries to pitchers Adam Wainwright, Jaime Garcia, Jordan Walden and lineup regulars Matt Holliday and Matt Adams couldn’t pull them down. They weren’t distracted by the rackety preseason buzz over the Cubs, or rattled by the sound of the Pirates slashing the St. Louis lead to four games on June 18.
The Cardinals were gliding high above two leagues, six divisions and 29 other major-league teams with the best winning percentage (.