REDS TAKE SECOND STRAIGHT FROM CARDINALS IN TEN-INNING FIGHT St. Louis Lets Chances Slip Away as Cincinnati Wins 3 to 2 in Extra Frame at Redland Field

CINCINNATI — The Cardinals fought harder Monday afternoon.

They still lost.

After being shoved around by the Cincinnati Reds one day earlier, Rogers Hornsby’s club dragged Cincinnati through ten hard innings at Redland Field before finally breaking apart in the last frame and falling, 3 to 2.

It was the sort of defeat that hangs in a clubhouse after the uniforms are packed away.

The Cardinals had chances enough to win it.

That is what will sting.

St. Louis struck first after pushing pressure onto the Reds early, and for a time it appeared the club might split the Cincinnati series before matters grew dangerous. The Cardinal bench carried more life than it had during Sunday’s shutout loss and the hitters attacked the ball with better purpose.

But Cincinnati answered back before the afternoon settled.

The Reds scratched even and the game tightened into a rough National League struggle from there forward.

Both clubs played sharp baseball through the middle innings while pitchers worked out of repeated trouble.

Hard slides kicked dust across the infield dirt and both benches barked through close plays as the Redland crowd leaned over the rails screaming at nearly every decision.

The Cardinals pushed another run across and again looked ready to seize command.

Again the Reds answered.

And that became the story of the afternoon.

Each St. Louis opening closed almost as quickly as it appeared.

The Cardinals threatened repeatedly but failed to land the blow that would bury Cincinnati for good. Men reached base. Chances formed. Then the rally would die under pressure from Cincinnati pitching.

By the late innings every ball hit into play carried tension.

Hornsby paced with a black expression near the bench as another opportunity slipped loose in the upper frames. The Cardinals could feel the game hanging there waiting for one mistake.

The mistake came in the tenth.

Cincinnati broke through in the final inning and shoved the winning run home before the Cardinals could escape the frame alive. Redland Field erupted while the St. Louis players stood staring across the diamond in silence.

The Reds rushed from the dugout after the winning tally crossed.

The Cardinals walked off beaten for the second straight afternoon.

Now the club heads deeper into this western swing with the losses beginning to pile behind them and the standings tightening before May has even arrived.

And ahead waits Chicago.

— Mike Allen

Bird Chatter Express