On July 4, 1992, my wife Ellen and I were married at St. Angela Merici Parish in North St. Louis County, Florissant, Missouri.
We didn’t go to the game since the Cardinals were playing the San Francisco Giants in California that day. She might have eventually found herself at the ballpark wearing her wedding gown if the game had taken place in Busch Stadium II.
On our honeymoon, we ended up in Wisconsin and Chicago. The Brewers used to play in Milwaukee County Stadium and Wrigley Field, where we went to games.
I therefore made the decision that we would take the train to Chicago for a day trip to see the Cardinals and Cubs on our 33rd anniversary. It sounded ideal with both teams’ colors being red, white, and blue and baseball being America’s pastime (it’s no longer, as football has surpassed it in recent years, but go with me).
Despite some pregame rain, we had lunch and relaxed in the Cubby Bear across from Wrigley. We enjoyed delicious food and refreshing beer, and there were a few Cardinals fans scattered throughout the historic bar and grill.
We arrived at the stadium, picked up additional beer ($15 each for a 16-ounce Busch Latte, tip included, of course), and took our seats in Section 204. The Cubs fans around us were entertaining, and we had two seats on the positive side of a support beam.
The mound was then taken by Miles Mikolas.
For St. Louis, Mikolas has had a fantastic season. In 2018, he finished in the top 10 in the National League Cy Young Award voting, which honors the league’s greatest pitcher each year, and went 18-4 as a starting pitcher. He was also named an all-star. In 2022, he was named an all-star as well.
He hasn’t been very good since then, though, and has consistently struggled to give up home runs—at least 25 per season since 2018 with the exception of the 2021 season, which was cut short due to COVID.
However, he found himself playing the division-leading, bitter foe North Side Small Bears at the bottom of the first inning.
Ian Happ, a left fielder, hits a single to the track as the first batter. Not a cigar, but close. Man, I wish I had smoked a cigar yesterday, but my wife despises them and ballparks don’t let it. Let’s not pretend that I’m Winston Churchill; I only get one every month.
After the second out, center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, who appears to be a future star, and DH Seiya Suzuki give the Cubs back-to-back home runs. These are unquestionably homers. Only bombs.
Two runs already looked overwhelming because the Cardinals went into Friday’s game having been shut out by the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are in worst place in the division, in THREE STRAIGHT GAMES.
Tra-la-la-la-la, the Cubs are back after St. Louis lost 1-2-3 in the second. Michael Busch, the first baseman (Ellen’s comment: shouldn’t he be playing for us?). Carson Kelly, a former Cardinal, and the catcher both had tape measure shots. At O Hare Field, these balls most likely appeared on the screens of the air traffic controllers.
Getting four outs but allowing four home runs? losing baseball games.
In the top of the third, the cards offense is still on the side of a milk carton. Returning at the bottom of the third is Pete Crow-Armstrong. There are already a lot of jerseys in the stands for this child, man. And with yet another home run, he demonstrates why. Not to be outdone, Busch hits another batter after two. These two balls aren’t cheap home runs. After calling their mothers nasty, Mikolas is being thrashed.
I suppose I’ll have another of the beers named after Busch because he just hit a home run once more.
The first three innings of the contest saw six home runs. Hitters have traditionally benefited from Wrigley Field day games in ideal weather, but for Pete’s sake (Crow-Armstrong on this day),
In the fourth inning, the Cards score a run. Second baseman Brandon Donovan hit a home run. A sprint. Cheers!
Then, in the bottom of the fourth, Mikolas sits down the Cubs 1-2-3. He goes there. He’s just getting settled!
But hold on. In the sixth, PCA—what the youngsters call Crow-Armstrong—only receives a single. Busch returns following a groundout by Dansby Swanson. I’m not going to drink another beer if he doesn’t homer.
RBI single. Mike, I appreciate you saving me that money.
A scoreless sixth is pitched by Mikolas. I understand that a pitcher may need to wear one at times in order to save the bullpen for the remainder of the series, but allowing him give up six home runs? And all season long, the dude has stunk it up?
The seventh is John King. Homerfest may be over. A hot dog is in order.
Thankfully, King just gets a single after getting the first two outs before another PCA hit.
However, Swanson hits Chicago’s sixth home run of the game, joining the homer celebration. Busch is back now. The seventh is the date. It’s my last chance to get beer. I simply order a Coke Zero to go with my hot dog while I wait in line.
The roar then reaches my ears.
Busch hit three home runs, and the Cardinals allowed eight home runs.
At least I avoided another $15 beer because of the timing. The Coke Zero at $9 was a far better value.
We had seen enough, so I finish my hot dog on the way out, and Ellen and I take an Uber to Union Station so we can take the train home. Despite St. Louis’ 11-3 defeat, I was able to witness history and have a lovely day at the stadium with my girlfriend. According to the renowned philosopher Ice Cube
Yes, it is a Saturday on a holiday weekend, but I wake up early to take the dogs out and complete my morning MRN obligations. There is always news. Today, Brittany Boll and I are producing content, and I came across this headline in Steve’s Daily Dirt:
DAILY DIRT: Cardinals have been one of major 25 surprises, should Oli be in manager of the year consideration?
Are you seriously joking with me? After what I’ve witnessed firsthand and after watching the previous two seasons?
No, Steve. Oli Marmol should not be National League Manager of the Year.
J. Robert Gough is the publisher and general manager of Muddy River News. Ellen Duffy-Gough is known around MRN headquarters as The CEO or St. Ellen.
