[jg2977]

Alright, let’s talk about this game, because this was classic October chaos — the kind of game that tells you everything about both teams in one afternoon.
Cardinals beat Reds 13–12, walk-off, Game 1.
And here’s the headline, folks:
👉 St. Louis won this game not because they were cleaner… but because Cincinnati blinked last.
That’s the difference in the postseason.
The Big Picture Take
This was a football score masquerading as a baseball game, and those games always expose who you really are.
Cincinnati came in swinging confidence. St. Louis came in believing they’d survive.
One team played to impress. The other played to endure.
Guess which one walked off the field smiling.
Let’s Start with the Obvious: Bo Celauro Was Incredible
Bo Celauro went nuclear.
Two homers.
Five RBIs.
Six total bases.
Player of the Game.
If you’re Cincinnati, you did everything you could ask your star shortstop to do. This is one of those performances where, historically, teams usually win.
But here’s the Cowherd rule:
Stars win headlines. Depth wins series.
And Cincinnati leaned too hard on the former.
Why Cincinnati Lost (Even with 12 Runs)
Let’s be honest — scoring 12 runs and losing is a red flag.
Cincinnati:
Blew multiple leads
Got almost nothing from the bullpen
Trusted a 16-year veteran in the ninth with the season emotionally on the line
Luis Arriaga has had a fine career. Respect it.
But this is October. This isn’t a nostalgia contest.
You don’t close games on résumé.
You close them on misses.
And Ricky Martinez didn’t miss.
Ricky Martinez: Moment > Resume
Bottom of the ninth. Tie game.
Busch Stadium buzzing.
Everyone standing.
And boom — solo homer.
That’s not just a swing. That’s a statement:
“This is our park. This is our game. This is our series.”
Two home runs on the day. Three runs scored.
That’s a guy who doesn’t wait for permission.
The Cardinals’ Identity Showed Up Loud
St. Louis didn’t pitch well.
They didn’t field perfectly.
They didn’t dominate.
But they did what veteran October teams always do:
Answer every punch
Keep traffic on the bases low
Make sure the other team had to be perfect
And Cincinnati wasn’t.
That sixth inning?
Six runs.
That’s where the Cardinals took control of the emotional temperature of the game.
From that point on, the Reds were playing tight.
The Quiet Truth About This Game
This wasn’t a fluke.
This was:
Cincinnati showing how dangerous they are
And showing how fragile they can be when the bullpen door opens
Meanwhile, St. Louis just reminded everyone:
“We don’t panic. We absorb.”
That’s why they’re up 1–0.
Final Thought — Series Outlook
If you’re Cincinnati, you’re frustrated… but not discouraged.
You hit. You can score. You belong.
But if you’re St. Louis?
You just won the hardest kind of playoff game — the one you probably shouldn’t have.
And those wins?
They linger.
Game 2 tomorrow at Busch.
And I’ll say this:
If Cincinnati doesn’t tighten the late innings,
this series is going to feel shorter than it looks on paper.