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Cardinals completed MLB’s largest ninth-inning comeback of the season

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Prior to Wednesday night, MLB teams were a combined 817-0 this season when leading by at least four runs heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, according to ESPN Stats & Info. That record is now 817-1.

St. Louis thrilled its home crowd with five runs in the bottom of the ninth to come back from 5-1 down and defeat the Washington Nationals 6-5 in baseball’s largest ninth-inning comeback of the season. The rally started with a Brendan Donovan single before Paul Goldschmidt drew a walk.

Nolan Arenado scored Donovan on a ground-rule double to right, moving Goldschmidt to third, in a perfect position to score on a Corey Dickerson groundout.

With the lead cut in half and Arenado at third, Tyler O’Neill drew a walk before Nolan Gorman struck out swinging.

But with the Nationals an out away from finishing the game, Cardinals veteran catcher Yadier Molina hit a 1-0 sinker to left to score Arenado and move O’Neill into scoring position.

“Hitting is contagious,” Donovan said. “That at-bat O’Neill had was just a huge spark right there.”

Outfielder Ben DeLuzio then entered to pinch run for Molina, which proved pivotal when shortstop Tommy Edman smacked the first pitch to deep left to score O’Neill and DeLuzio, completing the comeback.

“We could have very easily caved in that last inning, but that’s just the kind of team that we have,” Edman said. “We have guys that are resilient, aren’t going to quit regardless of the score, and I think that’s something that’s going to carry us through the end of the season.”

Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan allowed all five of the runs in the loss, while Cardinals reliever Jake Woodford earned the win after pitching a shutout top of the ninth.

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Three at-bats that sent the Cardinals to a 5-run rally, comeback win over Nationals

(Photo: Jeff Curry / USA Today)

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