St. Louis and Pittsburgh were tied at 1.
In the bottom of the 11th, Peter Bourjos smacked a ball up the third base line and started to run, sifting the dirt with each step.
He stood at second, with red and blue striped socks pulled up to his knees.
He started to wander – no, run – toward third, as the pitcher considered a pitch.
Only, he didn’t throw home.
The runner darted between two safe places, finally hurrying back to second base.
But the throw got there first.
St. Louis lost a chance to win.
Then, with one out, Pete Kozma cracked a base hit, and he stood at first.
Meanwhile, Bourjos sat in the dugout.
Had he not been picked off, perhaps the batter, Kozma, would’ve seen a different pitch, or a different defensive alignment.
Maybe an infielder would have knocked down a ground ball or an outfielder would have snagged a sinking drive.
St. Louis might have won, perchance.
Instead, with one on and one out, Jon Jay stood from the left side, and held his bat against his shoulder.
He cracked a single past first base, and Kozma sped to third.
Try once more.
Pittsburgh left 18 runners on base this night.
Many, many chances.
But Matt Carpenter soon popped a fly ball into deep left center, scoring Kozma for the Cardinals’ second walk-off victory in two nights.
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