The 2021 Cardinals can dilute the optimism of even the most positive of people. And so, while watching Saturday’s game — they’d lost the previous five — it was reasonable to identify this particular moment as the moment. As in — the moment they’d blow it, once again.
Up 3-1 in the top of the sixth inning. But two Pirates on, no Pirates out. The batter, the cleanup hitter, already had homered.
“There’s an ability for people to get either this way with their focus — or this way,” said Cardinals manager Mike Shildt, while bringing his hands close together in front of his face.