Late-inning moments add up as Cardinals complete sweep

Cardinals outfielder Victor Scott II fights off a pitch during a game against the Diamondbacks on Sunday, May 25, 2025, at Busch Stadium.

Eli Randolph, Post-Dispatch

Why baseball managers matter in modern game (even more?) with author of new book, ‘Skipper’

Post-Dispatch podcasts page: https://go.stltoday.com/0hfn43

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In the wake of three managerial firings before Memorial Day, author and longtime baseball writer Scott Miller joins the Best Podcast in Baseball to discuss his new book, “Skipper: Why Baseball Managers Matter (and Always Will)”. In his deeply reported work, Miller talks with managers, both current and past, to map the changing landscape of the role as front offices and analytics become more dominant and a perception grips the game that, as Miller writes it so well, lineups are being written for the manager not by the manager.

With BPIB host and baseball writer Derrick Goold, Miller discusses the evolution of managers in the game from Sparky to Tony to Bochy, the traits that make a successful manager, and also how those traits have changed and adapted to a game driven more and more by data and run like the big business it is.

The two baseball writers also explore what happens to game if, as one executive told Miller in his book, the hiring practices and analytics used in the game leave the majors “with a very homogenous group of managers.”

The managerial aspirations of Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, and others are explored as a way to avoid that.

Miller has covered baseball for the New York Times, Bleacher Report, and many other outlets, and his book shows the depth of his understanding in the game and access to some of the great managers. He watches a Yankee game at the Boone house as Aaron manages; he spends time with Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on the job and with Hall of Fame-bound manager Dusty Baker at the vineyard. Miller also talks with former Cardinals manager Mike Matheny and gains welcome perspective on his tenure during a changing time for the role.

Miller’s book is available now.

On Amazon.

At a local independent bookstore like St. Louis’ Left Bank Books.

The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a weekly production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The sensation of pain Nolan Arenado felt after tumbling into the first row of seats down the left field line Sunday at Busch Stadium was one the Cardinals third baseman said was new to him. But seeing how it helped him and his club secure a series sweep of the Diamondbacks provided a feeling of familiar satisfaction for the 10-time Gold Glove Award winner.

On a pop-up Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte skied into foul territory toward the seats, Arenado made a backhanded snag and tumbled back-first into the first row of seats. The snag secured the second out of the ninth inning when Arizona had runners on first and second base, trailing by a run. The impact knocked the wind out of Arenado and left him lying on the warning track in pain.

After was checked out by Cardinals trainers, he remained in the game.

Arenado’s defensive gem was followed Phil Maton’s swinging strikeout of Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to strand runners on second and third base and complete a Sunday win over Arizona that included a go-ahead RBI single from Victor Scott II in the seventh inning.

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“It’s a big out,” said Arenado, who noted he felt the impact on his kidney but did not specify which side. “Anything to help the pitchers out. (Maton) did a great job at striking out the next guy. … I’ve got to contribute somehow. Shoot, I’m just trying to help out. Help us win any way I can.”

The highlight-reel grab and Arenado’s willingness to finish the game provided another example to manager Oliver Marmol of the type of player he has on his in the likely future Hall of Famer.

“Incredible play, and then to stay in it and not want to come out until we get that last out, it speaks to who he (Arenado) is as a competitor,” Marmol said. “It’s insane. Love having him, and what he continues to do is incredibly impressive. That’s a big-time play and a big part of the game. I thought for sure he was going to come out, and he wanted no part of coming out of that game.

“One of the toughest dudes I’ve been around, that’s for sure.”

Arenado’s catch helped the Cardinals seal their fourth series sweep of the season and improve to a season-best seven games above .500. It was one of three key moments the Cardinals produced in the late innings on Sunday.

The first of the Cardinals’ late-inning production that lifted them to a win handed them their first lead in the series finale.

After RBIs from Ivan Herrera (1 for 3, two RBIs) and Masyn Winn (1 for 2 with a homer) provided enough run production for the Cardinals to enter the seventh inning tied, it was Scott’s single that put them ahead 4-3.

With Jordan Walker standing on second base after he singled and advanced on a groundout by catcher Pedro Pages, Scott saw two pitches from left-hander Jalen Beeks for balls, then fouled off a fastball. On the fourth pitch of his at-bat after striking out twice in his two previous at-bats, Scott pulled a fastball to Marte at second base. The 101.5 mph grounder could not be backhanded by Marte and bounced into right field for a single that allowed Walker to score without a throw.

“If you ask me in the moment, I thought he (Marte) was going to make that play because he’s made a couple crazy plays,” Scott said. “But I mean, it’s a sigh of relief just to be able to see that one fall and then say, like, ‘OK, I did well today,’ because I grinded mentally. I didn’t have success early on but was able to have success in my third one. That just showed not throwing away an-bat just because of my day prior to that.”

Cardinals relief pitcher Phil Maton throws during the ninth inning of the series finale against the Diamondbacks on Sunday, May 25, 2025, at Busch Stadium. Maton finished the win to earn the save.

Eli Randolph, Post-Dispatch

Clinging to a one-run lead with holds from lefties John King and JoJo Romero after starter Sonny Gray threw six innings and allowed three runs, the Cardinals turned to Maton for the save opportunity with closer Ryan Helsley unavailable due to his usage on Friday and Saturday.

Maton, who had allowed two hits in 18 at-bats to the first batter he’s faced in outings this year, surrendered a leadoff double to Alek Thomas on an 0-2 cutter. Maton put a second runner on base when a replay review confirmed his 1-0 curveball hit Geraldo Perdomo.

Tasked with facing Arizona leadoff hitter Corbin Carroll with multiple runners on, Maton missed the strike zone with a cutter before seeing Carroll foul of two consecutive cutters. After missing with a curveball, Maton got Carroll to whiff one a curveball broke into the left-handed-hitting outfielder.

“Actually executing a two-strike pitch, it was good,” Maton quipped. “It was one of those situations where we didn’t want to overexpose him to the curveball, just because the way his bat path is. He could do a ton of damage on his own spin. We were fortunate to get to two strikes without really having to lean on it too hard and executed the pitch and was able to move on.”

Having received a key play from Arenado, Maton retied Gurriel on five pitches, ending Sunday’s series finale with a whiff on a curveball that stranded two runners in scoring position.

“It’s a huge spot,” Marmol said of Maton’s save. “This is a guy with a steady heartbeat. He’s not going to scare. He embraces that part of the game. He’s been able to do it for a long time. Those were some really good hitters coming up there. To punch out Carrol … gosh darn, that’s a hell of a ballgame.”

Photos: St. Louis Cardinals sweep Arizona Diamondbacks with 4-3 win