The midday glare coming off the scoreboard was not enough to hide what was lacking.
For the second time in three days against rebuilding Baltimore, the Cardinals struggled to score runs, stringing zeroes like digital garland on the scoreboard Thursday afternoon above baking Busch Stadium. A first-pitch temp of 90 degrees felt much hotter on the field, just as the Orioles’ 3-2 victory had times where it hardly felt that close at all. Baltimore won the series in its first visit to Busch III, the former St. Louis Browns club’s first appearance in St. Louis since 2003.
Steven Matz had a strong recovery from his dud in San Francisco and held the Orioles to a run long enough for his teammates to muster some offense.