Baseball is a game of inches. You’ve heard this before of course. It’s a popular saying. An inch in a different direction, everything changes. One diving catch is a game-winning hit if it’s an inch to the left. This is especially important in the postseason, when runs are at a premium and every decision, every play matters. Sometimes, an inch can be the difference between winning or losing.
An inch did not make a difference in yesterday’s game, to say the least. The Cardinals scored 10 runs in the first inning, added to their lead in the next two innings, and then sat back and relaxed while Jack Flaherty and the bullpen did their thing.