Photos: Closer Riley O'Brien seals Cardinals 2-1 win over Giants
With starting pitcher Quinn Mathews carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning and allowing only one run, closer Riley O'Brien seals the Cardinals to 2-1 win over the San Fransciso Giants in the ninth inning Monday night at Busch Stadium.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals pitcher Riley O'Brien (61) celebrates getting San Francisco Giants Christian Koss (50) to ground out to lead the Cardinals to a 2-1 win over the San Francisco Giants in the ninth inning of a game on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals catcher Leo Bernal (13) and closer Riley O'Brien (61) celebrate getting San Francisco Giants Christian Koss (50) to ground out to lead the Cardinals to a 2-1 win over the San Francisco Giants in the ninth inning of a game on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
Cardinals catcher Leo Bernal (13) motions to the dugout after hitting a double in the second inning of a game against the Giants on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals bench coach Daniel Descalso (34) and Cardinals Special Assistant to the President of Baseball Operations Yadier Molina listens to the post-game interview with ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals catcher Leo Bernal (13) after the Cardinals 2-1 win over the San Francisco Giants on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals catcher Leo Bernal (13) and pitcher Ryne Stanek (55) celebrate after getting San Francisco Giants designated hitter Turner Hill (52) to line out to third base with the bases loaded end the eighth inning of a game between the Cardinals and Giants on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals pitcher Quinn Mathews (60) paces in the dugout in the fifth inning after still not allowing a hit in a game between the Cardinals and Giants on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals pitcher Quinn Mathews (60) walks off the field after walking San Francisco Giants catcher Andrew Knizner (19) to load the bases in the seventh inning of a game between the Cardinals and Giants on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals JJ Wetherholt (26) watches the game on the bench against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at Busch Stadium. Wetherholt was placed on the ten-day injured list due to right wrist tendinitis.
Cardinals catcher Leo Bernal comforts pitcher Quinn Mathews (60) after Mathews gave up two hits in the in the sixth inning of a game against Giants on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
A fan shows his support for San Francisco Giants Tony Vitello who walks back to the dugout after replacing San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Landen Roupp (65) in the fifth inning of a game between the Cardinals and Giants on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at Busch Stadium. Vitello grew up in ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ and graduated from De Smet High School.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals Leo Bernal (13) hits an RBI single off San Francisco Giants pitcher Reiver Sanmartin (48) in the fifth inning of a game between the Cardinals and Giants on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals catcher Leo Bernal (13) motions to ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn (0) after throwing out San Francisco Giants Jonah Cox (53) who was trying to steal second base in the sixth inning of a game between the Cardinals and Giants on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
San Francisco Giants Tony Vitello watches his team at bat in the fourth inning of a game between the Cardinals and Giants on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at Busch Stadium. Vitello grew up in ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ and graduated from De Smet High School.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals Leo Bernal (13) hits a double off San Francisco Giants pitcher Landen Roupp (65) in the second inning of a game between the Cardinals and Giants on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
San Francisco Giants Tony Vitello watches his team bat in the fourth inning of a game between the Cardinals and Giants on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at Busch Stadium. Vitello grew up in ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ and graduated from De Smet High School.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals catcher Leo Bernal (13) talks with pitching coach Dusty Blake inning of a game between the Cardinals and Giants on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals Alec Burleson (41) hits an RBI single off San Francisco Giants pitcher Reiver Sanmartin (48) in the fifth inning of a game between the Cardinals and Giants on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
The Cardinals’ Alec Burleson heads to first base on an RBI single during the fifth inning of a game against the Giants on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals Thomas Saggese (25) scores on a RBI single by ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals Alec Burleson (41) off San Francisco Giants pitcher Reiver Sanmartin (48) in the fifth inning of a game between the Cardinals and Giants on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
Cardinals starting pitcher Quinn Mathews tosses to first after fielding a ball during the first inning of a game against the Giants on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals starting pitcher Quinn Mathews (60) cools off in the dugout during the first inning of a game between the Cardinals and Giants on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals pitcher Quinn Mathews (60) goes to work in the first inning of a game between the Cardinals and Giants on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
Laurie Skrivan | Post-Dispatch
Photographer
Working together for the second time in the majors, Cardinals rookies Quinn Mathews and Leo Bernal found a rhythm to keep the Giants to one run over 6 2/3 innings.
The Cardinals hung on for a 2-1 win on Monday night at Busch Stadium that ended with closer Riley O'Brien leaving runners on second and third base to complete his 37th save of the year.
With the regular season winding down, the Cardinals hope the final grind of the 2026 season can help prepare players for the workload that will come in future seasons.
Cardinals manager Oli Marmol stuck with closer Riley O'Brien amid recent struggles and it paid off Monday. Here's what those two plus Leo Bernal and Quinn Mathews said.
