The Cardinals' bats went silent in a 4-1 loss to the Reds on June 22, 2025. Andrew Abbott outdueled Miles Mikolas, spoiling the series sweep for St. Louis.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a frustrating end to an otherwise successful weekend at Busch Stadium. After securing a series win, the St. Louis Cardinals had a chance to sweep the Cincinnati Reds but instead saw their offense completely disappear, leading to a quiet 4-1 loss in the Sunday finale. Reds starter Andrew Abbott was the star of the show, shutting down the Cardinal lineup and leaving the home crowd with little to cheer about.
The Cardinals managed just three hits in the entire game, failing to score after the second inning.
The story of the game was Cincinnati's starter, Andrew Abbott, who masterfully carved up the Cardinals' lineup for seven dominant innings. He allowed just one run on three hits, effectively ending any rally before it could begin. The Cardinals' lone run came in the second inning, but they couldn't muster any offense after that. For St. Louis, Miles Mikolas pitched a respectable game, giving up two earned runs over five innings while striking out six. Unfortunately, with zero run support, his solid effort wasn't enough, and he took the loss, dropping his season record to 4-5.
Beyond the on-field action, it was an unusually quiet day for the Cardinals organization. There were no roster moves, injury updates, or transactions announced. The farm system report was blank, and the front office remained silent on the trade front. While no news can be good news, the lack of activity puts a brighter spotlight on the team's performance, making the offensive shortcomings in the finale feel all the more significant. With the trade deadline approaching, the silence from the front office only amplifies the questions about how the team plans to address its need for consistent offensive production.
Despite the frustrating finish, the Cardinals still took two of three from a division rival, which is never a bad outcome. However, the Jekyll-and-Hyde nature of the offense remains a concern. The team will need to shake off this quiet Sunday and find its rhythm at the plate as they head into the next series. One loss doesn't define a season, but consistent run production is what will separate this team from the pack as the summer heats up.
