ST. LOUIS -- Normally loath to focus on any game past the one at hand, several Cardinals relented that they'd recently peeked at the upcoming schedule with wide eyes. A nine-game stretch against the National League's losingest teams awaited, presenting St. Louis with what it viewed as an opportunity: a chance to fatten up on the Marlins, Reds and Padres.
Now on the other end of it, they are forced to view it as an opportunity missed. Their feast-or-famine offense again slow to rev, the Cardinals sputtered to a second straight loss against the Padres on Wednesday night at Busch Stadium.