Cardinals fall to Blue Jays 10-9 on June 11, 2025, despite late homers from Willson Contreras and Nolan Gorman. Read how the Cards' furious rally fell short.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a night of furious comebacks and gut-wrenching what-ifs at Busch Stadium. In a game that felt like a heavyweight fight, the Cardinals traded massive blows with the Toronto Blue Jays, only to fall agonizingly short. Willson Contreras sent a jolt through the crowd with a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth, pulling the Cards within a single run, but the rally died there in a heartbreaking 10-9 loss.
Willson Contreras's ninth-inning, three-run homer brought the Cardinals to the brink, but the rally fell agonizingly short in a 10-9 loss.
The game was a wild ride from the first pitch. The Blue Jays jumped out to a 4-0 lead before the Cardinals' bats roared to life in the fourth inning. Nolan Arenado sparked the comeback with an RBI single, and Nolan Gorman followed with a towering three-run shot to tie the game, sending Busch Stadium into a frenzy. But the tie was short-lived. Toronto punched back immediately, and the Cardinals' pitching couldn't hold them down. Starter Miles Mikolas struggled, surrendering six runs in just five innings, putting the bullpen and the offense in a hole they couldn't quite escape.
Despite the frustrating result, there were bright spots. Willson Contreras continued his torrid stretch, extending his hitting streak to four games with the dramatic ninth-inning homer. He's been a force in the middle of the order, providing the kind of power the team desperately needs. Meanwhile, the ever-reliable Brendan Donovan extended his on-base streak against the Blue Jays to 12 games, a testament to his consistency. Donovan, who leads the team with a .310 average, continues to be a steady presence at the top of the lineup.
With Mikolas's tough outing, the spotlight on the starting rotation intensifies. The Cardinals have now lost three straight, and the pressure mounts on lefty Matthew Liberatore to play the role of stopper in the series finale. A solid performance from Liberatore isn't just about avoiding a sweep; it's about providing stability for a pitching staff that has looked vulnerable during this skid.
While the big-league club navigates this rough patch, hope is brewing in the minors. The farm system is teeming with talent poised to make an impact as soon as 2025. With 13 of the organization's Top 30 prospects nearing their ETAs, help could be on the way. Pitchers like Quinn Mathews, who posted staggering strikeout numbers last year, and Michael McGreevy, who already has MLB experience, could provide crucial depth and talent for a rotation that needs it.
All eyes now turn to Matthew Liberatore, who takes the mound for the series finale with the weight of a three-game skid on his shoulders. The Cardinals desperately need a stabilizing start to avoid a sweep and hold their precarious ground in the NL Central. It's more than just one game; it's a chance to stop the bleeding and prove this team's resilience.
