Despite offense's two-out efforts, Cardinals bullpen can't contain Reds in loss

Daniel Guerrero, St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Sep 15, 2025

Published in Baseball

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ST. LOUIS — In both instances after two-out rallies kept the Cardinals either tied or leading late in Monday’s series opener vs. the Reds, turbulence from their bullpen left them chasing Cincinnati.

When the Cardinals produced three runs in the sixth inning to take a 4-3 lead, Chris Roycroft allowed three runs and recorded just one out in his appearance before being replaced by lefty John King, who finished the inning.

And after two runs in the seventh inning on back-to-back, two-out singles from Brendan Donovan and Ivan Herrera tied the game, Ryan Fernandez loaded the bases with one out in the eighth inning and had to give way to Kyle Leahy, who allowed a sacrifice fly to give the Reds back their lead — and then surrendered four runs in the ninth in what amounted to an 11-6 loss to the Reds.

The late offense provided sparks for the Cardinals after they were limited to one run and two hits through five innings against Reds starter Zack Littell before tacking on three runs vs. the righty in the sixth inning. The lineup's production also got starter Matthew Liberatore off the hook for a losing decision after he kept the Reds to three runs (two earned) and struck out six batters while walking one over six innings. The six innings marked Liberatore's first start of at least six innings since June 29.

One of the runs Liberatore allowed came on a solo homer in the second inning that opened Monday’s scoring. Two came on a single in the third inning from Miguel Andujar, during which Andujar reached third base on center fielder Victor Scott II’s first error since July 27.

Willson Contreras was removed in the seventh inning because of right bicep tightness. Nolan Gorman pinch-hit for Contreras with two outs and the bases loaded in the seventh inning.

Two-out production

Trailing by two runs through five innings and held mostly silent by Littell in that span, the Cardinals offense broke through with two outs in the sixth inning.

A single to right field by Donovan with two outs gave the Cardinals their first base runner since Nolan Arenado, who was activated from the injured list Monday, had singled in the second inning. Twelve Cardinals hitters stepped to the plate and failed to reach base between Arenado’s and Donovan’s singles.

Donovan advanced to scoring position when a pitch hit Ivan Herrera, and the two scored on a double Alec Burleson drove to the gap in left-center field to even the score at three runs apiece.

The two-out momentum continued when Contreras pulled a single to left field to give the Cardinals a one-run lead and push his career high in RBIs to 80.

After their one-run lead became a two-run deficit in the seventh inning following Roycroft’s struggles as he allowed two hits and a walk, the top of the Cardinals order once again found a way to produce with two outs.

With Arenado on third base and Thomas Saggese on first base after they each had hits to begin the seventh inning, Donovan and Herrera delivered back-to-back singles to tie the game.

The second two-out rally ended on Gorman’s groundout in his pinch-hit at-bat.

Arenado returns

In his first at-bat since the final days of July, Arenado needed to see just one pitch to make an impact.

With Contreras on first base after he doubled to lead off the second inning, Arenado drove a first-pitch slider from Littell to center field for a single that plated Contreras for the Cardinals’ first run.

The start was the third baseman's first after a right shoulder strain forced him to miss 40 games. He spent time rebuilding strength in his throwing arm at the Cardinals' complex in Jupiter, Florida, before going on a rehab assignment this past week with Class-AA Springfield (Missouri).

Before Monday’s game, Arenado said he hoped to demonstrate positive health and produce hard contact as he looked to play in each of the Cardinals’ remaining 12 games to end the season.

Arenado, who had a .660 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) at the time of his IL placement on Aug. 1, flew out to right field and doubled to right-center after his single. Arenado’s double was his only hard-hit ball, with a 100.6 mph exit velocity.

Stewart squares up Liberatore

Playing in the 11th game of his big league career, top Reds prospect Sal Stewart found hard contact often against Liberatore. But in just one instance, the hard-hit results impacted Monday's scoring.

When Stewart faced Liberatore for the first time Monday night, the 21-year-old drilled a 2-0 fastball to left field for a solo homer that had a 112.6 mph exit velocity. Stewart's homer was his fourth in 33 at-bats since debuting in the majors on Sept. 1.

Stewart’s night against Liberatore also included a flyout to the warning track in left field in the fourth inning on a ball with a 108.6 mph exit velocity. The flyout had an .820 expected batting average and would have been a homer in 20 of 30 major league ballparks, per Statcast.

In their last encounter Monday night, Stewart flew out on a hard-hit ball to center field that had a 95.3 mph exit velocity but was caught to end the sixth inning.

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