A Nail-Biter Victory for the Cardinals! 
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Hey Cardinals fans, what a game! The St. Louis Cardinals pulled off an electrifying 5-4 victory over the Miami Marlins in the bottom of the 9th inning! It was a classic showdown at Busch Stadium. Let's dive into the excitement of this thrilling game.
Battle from the Beginning
The Marlins gave us some initial jitters with Jakob Marsee homering to right field right away. It was looking like a challenging start, but our boys stayed composed. Alec Burleson and JJ Wetherholt worked their magic with aggressive base running, scoring us that crucial initial run thanks to Jose Fermin's clutch single.
Defensive Efforts & Tense Moments
Our defense had its shaky moments, especially with a few errors along the way. Nevertheless, JJ Wetherholt stepped up with a key defensive play to prevent further scoring from the Marlins. It wasn’t easy, especially when the Marlins pulled ahead, but Graysen Tarlow and newcomer Ryan Weingartner kept us in the hunt with timely at-bats and vigilant fielding.
The Stunning Finish
The bottom of the 9th was the moment every Cardinals fan was waiting for. After Won-Bin Cho and Matt Koperniak struck out, Jalin Flores managed a walk. Ryan Weingartner hit a crucial double bringing in Flores, making it 3-4. In came Mendlinger to pinch run, and Jeremy Rivas hit a ground-rule double to tie the game! The final heroics came thanks to a wild pitch scoring Mendlinger, sealing a memorable 5-4 win.
Overall, it was a remarkable team effort, and this win surely makes every Cardinals fan proud. Time to celebrate this victory and get ready for the next game! Go Cards!
Scoreboard for Marlins @ Cardinals (February 23rd, 2026)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 2 |