Before a champagne pop one week in the making for a team and too many years in the waiting for an organization, the Cardinals had the pitcher who got them there and the hitter who had never been start the toast.
In the clubhouse, before the frenzy, Jack Flaherty, who ended his dominant second half with seven shutout innings Sunday, and Marcell Ozuna, an October rookie, spoke to their teammates, and then veteran Yadier Molina rose to ask a question. Surrounded by his teammates and club officials, Molina had playoff first-timers raise their hands.
Slaked by the Budweiser and champagne in copious, sticky amounts, these Cardinals drowned the club’s three-year postseason drought with a 9-0 victory against the rival Cubs on the final day of the regular season.