PITTSBURGH • The benefit of something so routine, so seemingly mundane as a ball in play was right there Sunday, just out of the Cardinals’ reach.
As their lead turned to dust in a snap at Miller Park and Milwaukee rallied for a walk-off win, the Cardinals saw Travis Shaw dump a bloop, RBI single into left field. Ryan Braun had skipped an RBI single to left in the previous at-bat, and in the decisive ninth inning Lorenzo Cain got an infield single that glanced off Jordan Hicks’ glove. Not one of those hits was going to sizzle with exit velocity or ride launch angle to glory.