Cardinals surrender 4-run lead in 9th, swept by Phillies
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 23, 2026, 8:20 PM
Last updated Aug 23, 2026

The St. Louis Cardinals lost a significant lead in the 9th inning against the Philadelphia Phillies on August 23, 2026, at Citizens Bank Park. The Cardinals jumped to a 4-0 advantage, thanks to contributions from JJ Wetherholt and Alec Burleson, alongside a home run from José Fermín. However, the Cardinals' bullpen could not withstand the pressure as the game shifted dramatically in the final inning. Riley O'Brien entered to close the game, but after conceding a double to Bryce Harper, the Phillies capitalized, loading the bases late in the game. The event led to the Cardinals being swept in the three-game series against Philadelphia.
- •Cardinals led 4-0 heading into the 9th inning.
- •Contributions from JJ Wetherholt and Alec Burleson fueled the lead.
- •José Fermín hit a home run to extend the advantage.
- •Riley O'Brien failed to close the game, allowing a bases-loaded situation.
- •The series sweep places additional pressure on the Cardinals.
- 8:20 PMYahoo Sports — St. Louis Cardinals Blow 4-Run Lead in the 9th, Get Swept by Phillies
"Kyle Leahy gave the St. Louis Cardinals exactly what he’s given the team much of the season. He was rock-solid shutting down the Philadelphia Phillies for the first four innings of the game. The Cardinals bats would manage to score against the Phillies ace Cristopher Sanchez, but the game would come down to whether the […]
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
MLB•Aug 23, 2026, 9:07 PMSchwarber's 2-run HR with 2 out in 9th rallies Phillies for a 6-4 win over the Cardinals
MLB•Aug 23, 2026, 8:44 PMAnd then the ninth inning happened: Phillies 6, Cardinals 4
MLB•Aug 23, 2026, 8:28 PMKyle Schwarber’s 459-foot missile completes Phillies comeback that made no sense
MLB•Aug 23, 2026, 8:22 PMCincinnati Reds vs. Arizona Diamondbacks – Andrew Abbott vs. Mitch Bratt
MLB•Aug 23, 2026, 8:22 PMPhiladelphia Phillies vs St. Louis Cardinals (11-1)
MLB•Aug 23, 2026, 7:40 PMGame 131: Twins at Padres
