Nolan Arenado's pinch-hit walk-off double gives the Cardinals a 2-1 win over the Dodgers on July 7, 2025, capping a brilliant pitching duel. Recap the drama.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
In a season defined by grit, Monday night at Busch Stadium might just have been the new high-water mark. With the game on the line and the crowd on its feet, Nolan Arenado stepped up as a pinch-hitter and did what he does best: deliver in the clutch. His laser double into the gap sent the Cardinals pouring out of the dugout, sealing a thrilling 2-1 walk-off victory over the powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Cardinals' pitching staff held the Dodgers, MLB leaders in scoring, home runs, and batting average, scoreless for the first 17 innings of the series.
The final frame was a roller coaster of emotion. Nolan Gorman ignited the rally with a leadoff ground-rule double, putting the winning run in scoring position. But the game had one more twist. Closer Ryan Helsley, despite recording his second consecutive blown save, saw the tying run scamper home on a wild pitch in the top of the ninth. It was a gut punch, but the Cardinals didn't flinch. In the bottom half, with the game hanging in the balance, manager Oli Marmol made the call to Arenado, who promptly sent the Busch Stadium faithful home happy.
Before the late-game fireworks, this was a masterclass in pitching from both sides. Cardinals starter Erick Fedde was brilliant, weaving through 5 1/3 scoreless innings against the most dangerous lineup in baseball. The bullpen followed suit, with a particularly gutsy performance from Steven Matz, who escaped a jam in the seventh after being struck by a line drive. The collective effort held the Dodgers scoreless for the first 17 innings of this series—an almost unbelievable feat against a team that hadn't been shut out in consecutive games since 2018. While Yoshinobu Yamamoto was equally dazzling for LA with nine strikeouts, the Cardinals' arms bent but refused to break.
While the on-field action was electric, it was a quiet day on the transaction wire. No trades, roster moves, or major injury updates were announced, indicating a front office focused on the pivotal series at hand. The stability allows the club to focus, but the future is always churning in the background. The farm system continues to be a source of optimism, with prospects like JJ Wetherholt, Quinn Mathews, and Tink Hence developing into potential future cornerstones. With the fifth overall pick in the upcoming MLB Draft, the organization is poised to add another blue-chip talent to that promising pipeline.
This wasn't just another win; it was a statement. By shutting down the Dodgers' vaunted offense and delivering a walk-off victory, the Cardinals showed they can go toe-to-toe with the league's elite. As the trade deadline inches closer, performances like this make the front office's decisions both easier and harder. For now, the team will ride this wave of momentum, looking to secure a massive series win and prove that the grit and magic are back in St. Louis.
