In the final week of a pennant race, baseball games have the importance of football games. The results are season-altering. There aren't any more cushions. And the St. Louis Cardinals wilted twice. Mental miscues in the first loss to Milwaukee. Just bad baseball in the second loss.
For all that's been made about young Cardinals pitchers ascending – and these are the guys who got you here – the lack of execution with two outs recorded was disturbing and astounding. You've probably heard the stat by now, and if not, here it is – with two outs and nobody on, the Brewers proceeded to score 11 of their 12 runs in Tuesday's 12-4 win at Busch.