Arenado Delivers in the Clutch as Cardinals Walk Off the Dodgers
ST. LOUIS – Before Nolan Arenado stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the ninth and delivered the game-winning RBI, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol posed a simple question: Did he want to end the game? Arenado responded, “Yes,” and then followed through with a pinch-hit fly ball to left field, bringing home pinch-runner Jose Barrero and sealing a 2-1 victory over the Dodgers in dramatic fashion.
The walk-off hit marked the 13th of Arenado’s career and capped another signature win for a Cardinals team that continues to defy expectations. Once believed to be in a rebuilding year, the team has now climbed to eight games above .500 with a 36-28 record and has secured series wins against several playoff contenders, including the Phillies, Dodgers, Astros, and Brewers. Nolan Gorman, who began the ninth-inning rally with a blistering double, emphasized the team’s confidence, saying, “We’ve got a really good team and a lot of people who are doubting us are going to be surprised.”
Another pivotal moment came just an inning earlier when shortstop Masyn Winn broke a scoreless tie with an aggressive play on the basepaths. Scoring from second on an infield single that deflected off the pitcher, Winn never slowed down and slid headfirst into home just ahead of the throw. It was one of two hits on the day for the young infielder, marking his 16th multi-hit game of the season.
The Cardinals’ pitching staff also played a crucial role in the win. Erick Fedde held the Dodgers scoreless for 5 1/3 innings, skillfully escaping multiple jams, including a bases-loaded situation in the third and retiring a string of former MVPs in key moments. Steven Matz added critical outs in relief, including striking out two batters in the sixth and taking a line drive off his arm in the seventh but staying in the game to finish the inning.
After back-to-back victories over the defending champions and another clutch performance from a deep and balanced roster, Fedde summed up the team’s mindset: “It just proves how good we really are. We don’t back down from anyone. We believe in our stuff, and it shows in the quality of baseball we’re playing.”
