“We’ve got guys who in the past have swung and missed. We knew that going in,” Matheny said. “We’ve got guys who strike out from time to time. And then you’re going to see the offensive production that we put up here over the last week up until this series. I think you’re going to have some of that going on all year. In those situational-hitting spots we’ve got to figure out how to get the job done.”

In the second inning the Cardinals got back-to-back singles off Hammel to put a rally in position. It faltered when Matt Adams unexpectedly took off for third base in an attempt to steal. He was thrown out easily, leaving Randal Grichuk behind at first base. The confusing decision to try and a double steal became acute when Yadier Molina followed with his first triple of the season. Grichuk scored from first on Molina’s deep drive off the left-field wall, and Molina slid around a potential tag to get to third.

There he stood with one out.

There he stayed with two outs.

There he was stranded.