Taking a 94-mph fastball in the back never felt so good for Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina.
After being plunked by Cincinnati pitcher Ross Ohlendorf, Molina smiled and celebrated because with the bases loaded it gave the Cards a 5-4 come-from-behind victory.
The club scored all five of its runs in the ninth inning. The crowd of 40,616, which didn't have much to cheer for throughout the night, celebrated an unusual walk-off win to cap off a 3-hour, 10-minute game.
The Cards snapped their two-game losing streak in improbable fashion. They were shutout through eight innings and had left seven runners on base.