Cardinals could not finish the sweep in Cincinnati as Andre Pallante faltered again, keeping STL from sealing the series. St. Louis jumped out 2-0 thanks to Nolan Gorman and Thomas Saggese, but the Reds answered with a three-run second and never relinquished the lead. Cincinnati tacked on later, with Austin Hays driving in runs and Matt McLain sealing it with a homer in the eighth. Two bright spots for STL were rookies Jimmy Crooks (first hit and first home run) and Cesar Prieto (first big-league hit in the ninth).

For fantasy managers, Gorman and Saggese offered early escape fire, Herrera provided a timely RBI, and Crooks’ breakout moment signals organizational depth at catcher. Pallante’s rough afternoon casts some doubt on the Cards’ rotation, while Cincinnati’s offense showed pop from Hays, McLain, and Friedl as they boosted the lineup in a pivotal win heading into a homestand.