CINCINNATI — One way for the Cardinals to get away with removing the heart of their lineup and letting it rest in the dugout Thursday afternoon was to get a heady pitching performance that did not need much from the lineup at all.
Miles Mikolas, his season in full gear after a clunky start, pitched seven shutout innings waiting for the Cardinals’ getaway-day lineup to provide a run, any run, even one run.
Two seemed like a windfall that became essential.
