It took a pitcher who has been off and on the roster almost as many times as he's been asked to make a pivotal start to throw the Cardinals right to the brink of a postseason berth.
Shut out in Game 1 of the doubleheader Friday night against Milwaukee, the Cardinals got shutout innings from Daniel Ponce de Leon to guide them to a 9-1 victory at Busch Stadium and a split of the doubleheader. Ponce de Lone took a no-hitter through five innings until a solo homer snapped it.
Ponce de Leon pitched six innings and struck out six.