St. Louis Cardinals' Michael Wacha adjust his hat during practice before Game 1 of baseball's World Series against the Boston Red Sox Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
SAN FRANCISCO • As much as the 2013 postseason run by the Cardinals and their young rookie starter will forever define Michael Wacha, so too will the last pitch he threw of the next season, the one that ended the season here at AT&T Park and likely one he never should have been asked to throw.
Those are the north and south poles of his career, the highest of highs and then the sudden low of an ending.