Cardinals turn a wild inning-ending double-play, a breakdown

In the bottom of the ninth inning, the game is tied 2-2 between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs. The tension is palpable as the teams battle it out in this crucial moment of the heated National League Central Division rivalry. With one out, Chicago first baseman Anthony Rizzo steps to the plate, representing the go-ahead run for the Cubs. St. Louis pitcher Carlos Martinez winds up and delivers a sharp grounder down the first base line. Rizzo sprints down the line, but Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt fields the ball cleanly and quickly throws it to second baseman Kolten Wong, who is covering first base. "There's a grounder hit to Goldschmidt, he flips to Wong for one and they'll get the double play!" exclaims the Cardinals' television play-by-play announcer. Wong catches the throw and quickly pivots, firing the ball to Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong at second base. DeJong snares the throw and applies the tag on the sliding Rizzo just in time for the inning-ending double play. "That's a tremendous turn by the Cardinals!" the announcer declares. "A key defensive play to get them out of the jam in the ninth." Cardinals manager Mike Shildt praises his team's execution, saying, "That was just textbook baseball right there. Guys made the plays when they needed to." The crowd at Busch Stadium erupts in cheers as the Cardinals escape the threat, maintaining the 2-2 tie heading to the top of the tenth inning. This clutch defensive stand has kept the Cardinals in the game, setting the stage for a dramatic finish between these two fierce NL Central rivals.