Cardinals fall to Blue Jays 5-4 on June 10 after a bullpen collapse wastes Iván Herrera's go-ahead homer. Read how a late lead turned into a tough loss.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a game the St. Louis Cardinals had won. A jolt of pure electricity surged through Busch Stadium in the bottom of the eighth inning when Iván Herrera launched a go-ahead, three-run homer, seemingly snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. But the joy was fleeting. In a gut-wrenching turn of events, the bullpen once again faltered, surrendering the lead in the ninth before ultimately falling 5-4 to the Toronto Blue Jays in a 10-inning heartbreaker.
Iván Herrera's clutch three-run homer came off Blue Jays reliever Yariel Rodríguez, who had previously allowed just one of 13 inherited runners to score all season.
The game was an absolute rollercoaster. After a solid but unspectacular start from Andres Pallente, who kept the Cards in it by allowing just two runs over six innings, the offense finally woke up in the eighth. Down 3-1, Willson Contreras delivered an RBI single to start the rally. Then, Iván Herrera stepped up and hammered a three-run shot that sent the home crowd into a frenzy. It felt like the signature moment of a hard-fought win. But the celebration was cut short. Ryan Helsley, normally automatic, surrendered a game-tying solo homer in the ninth, and Phil Maton couldn't stop the bleeding in the tenth, allowing the go-ahead double that sealed the Cardinals' fate and handed him his second loss of the season.
If there's a silver lining in this tough loss, it's the continued emergence of Iván Herrera. The young catcher's blast wasn't just a home run; it was a high-leverage, go-ahead shot against a reliever who had been nearly untouchable with runners on base. Herrera's power and poise in critical moments are becoming a consistent theme. He's not just a backup; he's proving to be a legitimate offensive weapon, providing a spark that the lineup desperately needs.
Monday's collapse wasn't a one-off issue; it was a symptom of a recurring problem. The bullpen, a supposed strength, has shown significant cracks. Riley O'Brien, Ryan Helsley, and Phil Maton all contributed to letting this one slip away. For a team with a 36-30 record and aspirations of a deep playoff run, having a lockdown bullpen isn't a luxury—it's a necessity. These late-game implosions are costing the team valuable wins and are quickly becoming the number one concern for the front office and fans alike.
While the big-league club deals with its bullpen woes, there's good news brewing down on the farm. The Cardinals' No. 2 prospect, left-hander Quinn Mathews, continues to impress at Triple-A Memphis. His most recent start saw him rack up six strikeouts, showcasing the kind of swing-and-miss stuff that could eventually help solve the pitching issues in St. Louis. His development is a bright spot and a reminder that high-end help could be on the way.
The beauty of baseball is that redemption is always just a day away. The Cardinals have a chance to wash the bitter taste of this loss out of their mouths tonight as Miles Mikolas takes the mound against Toronto's Chris Bassitt. It's a pivotal game to even the series and prove that Monday's bullpen meltdown was an anomaly, not the new norm. All eyes will be on the mound and in the 'pen as the Redbirds look to get back in the win column.
