There wasn’t a hold to grab, a save to clinch, or any other statistical doodad that will appear in the box score for them to earn Friday night, and yet three Cardinals relievers made investments in the loss that will pay off later.
Their rewards will be in box scores to come, their assignments ahead.
On the same day the Cardinals’ bullpen began its readjustment without closer Giovanny Gallegos for the immediate future – and possibly the remainder of the season – the Cardinals did not use any of their candidates to replace their ninth-inning righthander. Trailing, 3-1, after Adam Wainwright’s six innings, the Cardinals turned to the backbenchers in the bullpen, and they froze the game they inherited.