Masher Marcell Ozuna had the optimal opportunity to do damage in the bottom of Saturday’s first inning. But, after the count whittled to 3-2, Ozuna grounded into a double play. A run scored, sure. But then Paul DeJong popped out with a runner on third, and the Cardinals’ 1-0 lead felt more like a failure.
The Cardinals are an underachieving offensive club in general (24th in baseball in OPS), but it’s even more startling when it’s with runners in scoring position (27th, ahead of only the Blue Jays, Marlins and Tigers). In the heyday of this decade, with hitters such as Allen Craig and Matt Holliday, the Cards’ calling card was hitting with RISP.