Cardinals fall to Blue Jays 10-9 on June 11, 2025, despite homers from Arenado & Contreras. Read how St. Louis's power surge wasn't enough in this slugfest.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a night of fireworks at the ballpark, but unfortunately for Cardinals fans, the Toronto Blue Jays had the last laugh. In a back-and-forth slugfest, St. Louis clawed their way back from an early hole, only to fall agonizingly short in a 10-9 heartbreaker. It was a classic case of 'so close, yet so far,' a game that showcased the team's explosive offensive potential while laying bare the pitching issues that continue to plague them.
Nine runs on three homers should be enough to win a ballgame. On Tuesday, it was just enough to make a 10-9 loss sting that much more.
The game started on the wrong foot, with starter Miles Mikolas getting rocked for six runs over five innings, including a three-run blast by Andrés Giménez in the very first frame. But this Cardinals lineup doesn't quit. Nolan Gorman answered with a game-tying three-run homer in the fourth, and Nolan Arenado kept the pressure on with an RBI single and a towering two-run shot of his own. The Blue Jays kept punching back, with Alejandro Kirk's two-run homer off Kyle Leahy proving to be a critical blow. The drama peaked in the ninth when Willson Contreras launched a three-run homer to pull the Cards within one, but Toronto closer Jeff Hoffman slammed the door, sealing a frustrating defeat.
While the final score is a tough pill to swallow, you can't fault the offense. Nolan Arenado was a force, driving in three runs and looking every bit the superstar leader the team needs. Nolan Gorman's game-tying blast was a sign of his immense power, and Willson Contreras nearly played the hero with his ninth-inning heroics. It was a display of the middle-of-the-order thump this team is built on. On a smaller, but still significant note, Brendan Donovan extended his on-base streak against the Blue Jays to 12 games after being hit by a pitch, continuing his run as a consistent table-setter.
For all the offensive heroics, the story of the loss ultimately comes down to the mound. Mikolas's line—six earned runs on nine hits in five innings—simply won't cut it. The bullpen couldn't hold the line either, with Kyle Leahy surrendering a key homer. This game was a microcosm of a worrying trend: the offense is doing its job, but the pitching is giving up runs in bunches. A team can't be expected to score nine or ten runs every night to win, and the Cardinals are learning that the hard way during this three-game skid.
The struggles on the big-league mound make the developments in the farm system all the more critical. The organization is banking on top prospects to provide a boost, potentially as soon as this season. Names like Quinn Mathews, Tink Hence, and Cooper Hjerpe are generating buzz, and right-hander Michael McGreevy, who posted an impressive 1.96 ERA in a brief MLB stint last year, is knocking on the door. With the current rotation looking shaky, fans are rightfully wondering when, not if, one of these young arms will get the call to help stop the bleeding.
This loss stings, no doubt about it. Wasting a nine-run offensive explosion is a recipe for frustration. But the power is clearly there. The challenge now is for the pitching staff to find its footing and give this potent lineup a chance to win. As the team looks to snap this losing streak, all eyes will be on the starting pitcher to set the tone, because another slugfest might not bounce the Cardinals' way.
