It is improbable enough that the Cardinals have more than twice as many wins as losses (49-24), with as many as five of their key players sidelined with injuries. But their 3-2 victory in 10 innings over the Chicago Cubs on Friday night before a full house at Busch Stadium almost certainly defied plausibility.
First, reserve infielder Greg Garcia, who had not hit a home run all season at Class AAA Memphis in 250 plate appearances and in eight at-bats here since being brought up, crushed the only homer of the night, a 408-foot blast to deep left center to tie the score at 2-2 in the eighth inning.