Ninth Inning Dooms Cardinals, Boosts Diamondbacks

Jorge Barrosa of the Diamondbacks diving in safely for a run as Cardinals pitcher Gordon Graceffo tries in vain to tag him out

Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images

June 24, 2026

Diamondbacks 4, Cardinals 3

The St. Louis Cardinals carried a scoreless tie into the ninth inning Tuesday night at Busch Stadium before the Arizona Diamondbacks erupted for four runs and held on for a 4-3 win. Nolan Arenado and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. delivered the decisive hits in the top of the ninth. Matt Svanson took the loss for the Cardinals, while Kevin Ginkel earned the win and Brandyn Garcia closed it out for the save. The Cardinals rallied for three runs in the bottom half but could not complete the comeback.

A Scoreless Duel

For eight innings, this was a pitchers’ duel. Kyle Leahy was excellent for the Cardinals, scattering three hits over 6 1/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts and two walks on 85 pitches. Max Rajcic followed with 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, retiring all five hitters he needed to with a strikeout.

Eduardo Rodriguez matched him for the Diamondbacks. The left-hander allowed three hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out five and walking three on 95 pitches. Neither team could break through, so the game remained scoreless entering the ninth.

Diamondbacks Break It Open

The dam burst in the top of the ninth against Svanson. With two outs, Arenado lined a double to left-center to score Gabriel Moreno and put the Diamondbacks ahead, 1-0. Gurriel followed with a two-run single that plated Ildemaro Vargas and Arenado, extending the lead to 3-0. The Diamondbacks added a fourth run when Jorge Barrosa scored on a passed ball by Jimmy Crooks, extending the lead to 4-0. Svanson was charged with four runs while recording just one out.

Gordon Graceffo entered and ended the inning, but the damage left the Cardinals facing a four-run deficit in their final at-bat.

Cardinals Answer in the Ninth

The Cardinals refused to go quietly against Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald. They pushed across three runs in the bottom of the ninth, with Alec Burleson, Blaze Jordan and Crooks each driving in a run. Burleson doubled and finished with an RBI, and Jordan’s sacrifice fly brought the Cardinals within one.

The Cardinals got the tying run to the plate, but Garcia entered the game and shut it down. He struck out JJ Wetherholt swinging to end it.

What Went Right for the Cardinals

Leahy’s Gem

Leahy was outstanding, holding the Diamondbacks scoreless. He left the game in the seventh, allowing three hits and striking out three, giving the Cardinals every chance to win.

A Ninth-Inning Pulse

Down 4-0 entering the ninth, the Cardinals scored three times and brought the tying run to the plate. Burleson, Jordan, and Crooks all drove in runs in a rally that nearly erased the deficit.

Walker and Nootbaar

Lars Nootbaar went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk, and Jordan Walker added two hits.

What Went Right for the Diamondbacks

Arenado and Gurriel Deliver

Arenado doubled and drove in a run, and Gurriel’s two-run single was the decisive blow. The pair combined for three RBI in the ninth-inning outburst.

Rodriguez Sets the Tone

Rodriguez held the Cardinals scoreless in his outing as well. He also pitched into the seventh, allowing three hits, three walks, and five strikeouts.

What Went Wrong for the Cardinals

Svanson’s Ninth

Svanson recorded only one out and was charged with four runs, turning a scoreless game into a four-run deficit. The right-hander had trouble missing bats. Of the 21 strikes he threw, 16 were either put in play or fouled off. The one batter who walked against him — Pavin Smith — fouled off five pitches in a 10-pitch at-bat. Three Diamondbacks notched hits off him, with two of them driving in a combined three runs.

Too Little, Too Late

The Cardinals went 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position but did most of their damage after falling behind by four. They stranded the tying run in the ninth and could not deliver the final hit.

What Went Wrong for the Diamondbacks

A Near Collapse

The Diamondbacks built a 4-0 lead in the ninth and nearly gave it all back, allowing three runs before securing the final out. Sewald’s rough bottom of the ninth made the finish far more stressful than necessary.

Quick Hits

The Cardinals fell to 42-35 with the loss; the Diamondbacks improved to 40-39.
The game was scoreless through eight innings before all seven runs scored in the ninth.
The Cardinals went 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position; the Diamondbacks went 2-for-13.

Looking Ahead

Kevin Ginkel (3-2, 2.93 ERA) earned the win for the Diamondbacks as Matt Svanson (2-2, 7.27) took the loss for the Cardinals, both in relief. Brandyn Garcia (1, 2.50) earned the save.

The Cardinals and Diamondbacks will continue their series Wednesday, June 24 at 6:45 pm Central at Busch Stadium. Cardinals left-hander Matthew Liberatore (3-4, 5.23 ERA) will take the mound against Diamondbacks prospect Mitch Bratt, who will be making his major-league debut.