Nolan Arenado hit his 350th career HR, but the Cardinals fell to the Blue Jays 5-2 on June 9, 2025. Andre Pallante struggled in the tough home loss.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a night of mixed emotions at Busch Stadium. While Nolan Arenado etched his name deeper into baseball's history books with a milestone home run, the St. Louis Cardinals' collective offense went missing in action, leading to a frustrating 5-2 loss against the Toronto Blue Jays to kick off the series.
Tough loss, but we’ll bounce back tomorrow.
The Cardinals handed the ball to Andre Pallante, but the Blue Jays were ready. Pallante (4-4) couldn't find his rhythm, getting tagged for four runs on seven hits over five innings. The big blows came from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who laced a two-run double in the third, and a solo shot from George Springer in the fifth that pushed the game further out of reach. While Ryan Helsley came in and shut the door with a scoreless ninth, the damage was already done, putting the pressure squarely on an offense that just couldn't answer.
The brightest spot in a gloomy box score was undoubtedly Nolan Arenado. The Cardinals' third baseman was responsible for all of the team's offense, driving in both runs. The biggest moment came in the seventh inning when he launched a solo shot for his 350th career home run, a massive personal achievement. The homer also extended his on-base streak to an impressive 18 games. With a .278 average, 14 homers, and 46 RBI on the season, Arenado continues to be the lineup's most reliable force.
Manager Chaim Bloom continues to search for the right combination to unlock this offense. Monday saw another shuffle, with Lars Nootbaar's welcome return to the leadoff spot and Willson Contreras getting the start at first base to keep his bat in the lineup while Iván Herrera handled catching duties. The focus, however, was on the bottom third of the order—Alec Burleson, Nolan Gorman (as DH), and Victor Scott II. Unfortunately, the trio couldn't provide the hoped-for spark, and the team managed just six hits total against José Berríos and the Jays' bullpen. The patience Bloom has preached, especially with young players, is being tested as the team struggles for consistency.
As the Cardinals fall two games below .500, the story remains the same: a desperate need for more consistent offensive production. With Arenado doing his part, the question now is who else will step up. The team will look to even the series tomorrow, hoping a new day brings the breakout performance this lineup has been searching for all season.
