SAN FRANCISCO — Two teams as snug in the game as they remain in the standings exchanged counterpunches late into the night Monday as they tried to avoid being the first of them eliminated, officially, from the playoff race.
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In today’s 10 AM “Ten Hochman” video, Ben Hochman discusses the Cardinals’ attendance in 2025. Plus, a happy birthday shoutout to Joan Jett! And as always, Hochman picks a random Cards card out of the hat!
Photos: Cardinals take opener from Giants in San Francisco
San Francisco Giants third base Matt Chapman makes a throwing error on a ground ball hit by ӣƵ Cardinals' José Fermín during the eighth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.
San Francisco Giants center fielder Drew Gilbert falls to the ground after catching a fly out hit by ӣƵ Cardinals' Thomas Saggese during the seventh inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.
San Francisco Giants center fielder Drew Gilbert, right, catches a fly out hit by ӣƵ Cardinals' Thomas Saggese as left fielder Heliot Ramos watches during the seventh inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.
ӣƵ Cardinals' Ryan Fernandez pitches to a San Francisco Giants batter during the sixth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in San Francisco.
ӣƵ Cardinals' Ryan Fernandez pitches to a San Francisco Giants batter during the sixth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in San Francisco.
ӣƵ Cardinals second baseman José Fermín, left, tags out San Francisco Giants' Patrick Bailey at second during the sixth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in San Francisco.
San Francisco Giants' Patrick Bailey, left, celebrates with Casey Schmitt after they scored against the ӣƵ Cardinals on Heliot Ramos' single during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in San Francisco.
San Francisco Giants' Patrick Bailey reacts after hitting an RBI single during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the ӣƵ Cardinals, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in San Francisco.
ӣƵ Cardinals pitcher Michael McGreevy, right, watches as San Francisco Giants' Drew Gilbert, foreground, takes first after a walk during the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in San Francisco.
San Francisco Giants' Heliot Ramos, top right, hits a two-run single off of ӣƵ Cardinals pitcher Michael McGreevy (36) during the fourth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.
San Francisco Giants pitcher Justin Verlander reacts on the mound during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the ӣƵ Cardinals in San Francisco, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.
San Francisco Giants' Rafael Devers, right, celebrates with third base coach Matt Williams after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the ӣƵ Cardinals, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in San Francisco.
ӣƵ Cardinals' Iván Herrera, right, is congratulated by Alec Burleson, middle, after hitting a two-run home run that also scored Lars Nootbaar, left, during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.
ӣƵ Cardinals' Nolan Arenado (28) hits a double off of San Francisco Giants pitcher Justin Verlander, bottom, during the fifth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.
San Francisco Giants pitcher Justin Verlander, center, hands the ball over to manager Bob Melvin, left, as he exits during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the ӣƵ Cardinals, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in San Francisco.
San Francisco Giants' Rafael Devers (16) celebrates with Willy Adames, right, after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the ӣƵ Cardinals, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in San Francisco.
San Francisco Giants center fielder Drew Gilbert (61) watches a two-run home run hit by ӣƵ Cardinals' Iván Herrera during the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in San Francisco.
ӣƵ Cardinals' Iván Herrera (48) runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run off of San Francisco Giants pitcher Justin Verlander (35) during the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in San Francisco.
San Francisco Giants' Heliot Ramos hits a two-run single during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the ӣƵ Cardinals, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in San Francisco.
ӣƵ Cardinals' Iván Herrera (48) runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in San Francisco.
The Cardinals’ Iván Herrera, right, celebrates with Lars Nootbaar after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning against the Giants on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in San Francisco.
ӣƵ Cardinals' Iván Herrera, right, celebrates with third base coach Ron 'Pop' Warner after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in San Francisco.
San Francisco Giants' Justin Verlander pitches to a ӣƵ Cardinals batter during the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in San Francisco.
ӣƵ Cardinals pitcher Michael McGreevy reacts after walking San Francisco Giants' Rafael Devers during the third inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in San Francisco.
San Francisco Giants' Patrick Bailey, top left, hits an RBI single off of ӣƵ Cardinals pitcher Michael McGreevy (36) during the fourth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.
The Cardinals’ Jose Fermin hits an RBI double off Giants pitcher Justin Verlander, bottom, during the fourth inning of a game Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in San Francisco.
ӣƵ Cardinals' José Fermín (15) reacts after hitting an RBI double during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in San Francisco.
ӣƵ Cardinals' Alec Burleson, top left, hits an RBI single off of San Francisco Giants pitcher Justin Verlander, bottom, during the third inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.
ӣƵ Cardinals' José Fermín runs home to score against the San Francisco Giants during the third inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.
The Cardinals' Alec Burleson hits an RBI single against the Giants during the third inning in San Francisco on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.
ӣƵ Cardinals pitcher Michael McGreevy throws against the San Francisco Giants during the second inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.
ӣƵ Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol, right, reacts toward umpire Andy Fletcher during the second inning of a baseball game between the San Francisco Giants and the Cardinals in San Francisco, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.
ӣƵ Cardinals third base Nolan Arenado makes a throwing error on a grounder hit by San Francisco Giants' Matt Chapman during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.
ӣƵ Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker catches a fly out hit by San Francisco Giants' Rafael Devers during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.
San Francisco Giants' Heliot Ramos celebrates after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the ӣƵ Cardinals in San Francisco, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.
San Francisco Giants' Heliot Ramos celebrates after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the ӣƵ Cardinals in San Francisco, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.
ӣƵ Cardinals pitcher Michael McGreevy throws against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.
ӣƵ Cardinals pitcher Michael McGreevy throws against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.
San Francisco Giants pitcher Justin Verlander throws to a ӣƵ Cardinals batter during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in San Francisco.
San Francisco Giants' Justin Verlander pitches to a ӣƵ Cardinals batter during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in San Francisco.
ӣƵ Cardinals pitcher JoJo Romero, right, celebrates with catcher Pedro Pagés after the team's victory over the San Francisco Giants in a baseball game Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in San Francisco.
ӣƵ Cardinals second baseman José Fermín throws to first for an out on San Francisco Giants' Jerar Encarnacion during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in San Francisco.
ӣƵ Cardinals pitcher JoJo Romero pitches to a San Francisco Giants batter during the ninth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in San Francisco.
San Francisco Giants' Joel Peguero pitches to a ӣƵ Cardinals batter during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in San Francisco.
