Tommy Edman's walk

The Cardinals' Tommy Edman celebrates while singling to drive in the winning run in the club's 5-4 victory in 10 innings over Pittsburgh on Sunday, April 16, 2023, at Busch Stadium.

Willson Contreras rips open Tommy Edman's jersey after Edman singled in the 10th inning to give the Cardinals a 5-4 victory over Pittsburgh on Sunday, April 16, 2023, at Busch Stadium.

The Cardinals Nolan Arenado looks skyward after doubling in the eighth inning of a game on Sunday, April 16, 2023 — his 32nd birthday — at Busch Stadium.

The Cardinals' Tommy Edman tries to avoid the tag by Pittsburgh first baseman Carlos Santana in the ninth inning of a game on Sunday, April 16, 2023, at Busch Stadium. Edman was out on the play.

The Cardinals’ Lars Nootbaar yells to the dugout after hitting a two-run homer in the sixth inning, scoring Willson Contreras, against the Pirates at Busch Stadium on Sunday, April 16, 2023.

Recent results certainly made it easy to jump to the conclusion that the Cardinals’ offense might falter in the midst of a crucial scoring opportunity in the 10th inning of a their series finale with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday afternoon at Busch Stadium.

After all, for all the offensive firepower and well-deserved accolades collectively accumulated by members of the Cardinals everyday lineup, they’d struggled undeniably in situations that could’ve swung the outcomes of games in their favor.

When shortstop Tommy Edman stepped into the batter's box with the score tied, two outs and the bases loaded with the chance to either end the game or send it to an 11th inning, he smacked an RBI single into center field. That gave the club a much-needed confidence boost as well as a 5-4 win and a split of a four-game series against their NL Central Division rivals the Pirates.

"It's kind of a release of a little bit of frustration," Edman said of the game-winning hit. "Just from, especially, earlier in the game. We had a lot of chances, but it's a great feeling to be able to come through like that."

The Cardinals left 12 men on base in the game.

They entered the day ranked among the top third of the majors in hard hit percentage (second, 39.8%), batting average (sixth, .272), OPS (10th, .760) and total hits (fifth, 141).

They also ranked in the bottom third of the majors in runs per game (24th, 4.13).

"We have guys that are putting together great at-bats, and there are going to be days where they don't all come together in the same inning," Edman said. "That's seemed to happen a lot, but I’m sure we’ll have a lot of days later on in the season where we’ll get those hits, hit after hit after hit, where we’re kind of moving along the line."

They’d left the bases loaded to end the eighth inning with the score tied after the Pirates placed the pressure squarely on the shoulders of rookie Jordan Walker by intentionally walking Lars Nootbaar, who hit his first home run of the season to tie the score in the sixth. Walker hit a ball to the warning track in center, but it came to rest in the glove of Bryan Reynolds.

Before Edman stepped up in the 10th, the Pirates again put the pressure on Walker by walking Nootbaar to load the bases. Walker struck out looking.

Walker hardly has been the only one to falter in that situation for the Cardinals early this season. Even after Edman's game-winning hit, they’re now just two for 17 (.118) with the bases loaded this season.

"We didn't know the exact stats, but I mean just from watching the games you can see that we haven't really had those big hits in those big moments — especially myself," said Edman, who left three men on base in the game. "But hopefully this kind of gets everybody rolling and we can start to get some more of those big hits."

Edman, who is batting .264 this season, entered the day having gone 0 for 13 with one walk in 14 plate appearances with runners in scoring position.

This season, the switch-hitting Edman has gone seven for 10 (.700) while batting right-handed (against left-handed pitchers) compared to just seven for 43 (.163) while batting left-handed. He bucked that trend with his game-winning hit against Pirates right-handed reliever Wil Crowe.

"If you take the runners off base and just look at his overall production from the left side right now he's working really hard at making some changes in order to have some more success," Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said after his 100th career win. "It's not a matter of runners on, runners not on, it's just overall something he's trying to feel with the way he's rotating through the zone. Yeah, he's getting after it from the left side and our hope is that he can build off of what just happened there."

That's why earlier in the homestand, Edman was on the field early in the afternoon hitting off a tee and working on his swing, particularly from the left side, in search of a swing that had evaded him through the first few weeks of the season.

"The basic idea is freeing up my body and putting myself in a better position to be more athletic through the baseball," Edman said of the aim of his early work. "I think I was closing myself off earlier this year. I feel like I’m just in a position where I’m able to be more athletic in my swing."

Edman's hit ignited a spirited on-field celebration with the occupants of the Cardinals’ dugout all spilling out onto the field in jubilation.

Initially, it appeared Edman's athleticism might have contributed to him avoiding the brunt of an ice bath meant for him. Upon additional investigation, it seems the 47-degree game-time temperature played a bigger role.

"I was out there with the ice bucket, then right as I was about to throw it I felt kind of bad because it was so cold," Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas said. "So I kind of just yanked it to the side and threw most of the ice on the grass."

Mikolas, who allowed three runs (two earned) in 5⅔ innings, said Walker would definitely have gotten the full bucket dumped on him had he got the walk-off hit. But he cut the more veteran Edman a break and gave him "a little spritz."

In today's 10 a.m. "Ten Hochman" video, from the Siteman Cancer Center Studios, Ben Hochman discusses the "Animal House" ERA of Cardinals reliever Zack Thompson. Also, a happy birthday shoutout to Posh Spice! And as always, Hochman picks a random St. Louis Cards card from the hat. "Ten Hochman" is brought to you by St. Louis replacement window company Window Nation!

The Cardinals' Tommy Edman celebrates while singling to drive in the winning run in the club's 5-4 victory in 10 innings over Pittsburgh on Sunday, April 16, 2023, at Busch Stadium.

St. Louis Cardinals Tommy Edman hits a walk-off single to score Tyler O'Neill in the 10th inning for a 5-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium on Sunday, April 16, 2023. Photo by Robert Cohen, [email protected]

Willson Contreras rips open Tommy Edman's jersey after Edman singled in the 10th inning to give the Cardinals a 5-4 victory over Pittsburgh on Sunday, April 16, 2023, at Busch Stadium.

The Cardinals’ Lars Nootbaar yells to the dugout after hitting a two-run homer in the sixth inning, scoring Willson Contreras, against the Pirates at Busch Stadium on Sunday, April 16, 2023.

St. Louis Cardinals Lars Nootbaar crosses home plate, congratulated by Jordan Walker, after hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning, scoring Willson Contreras against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium on Sunday, April 16, 2023. Photo by Robert Cohen, [email protected]

The Cardinals' Tommy Edman tries to avoid the tag by Pittsburgh first baseman Carlos Santana in the ninth inning of a game on Sunday, April 16, 2023, at Busch Stadium. Edman was out on the play.

The Cardinals’ Brendan Donovan runs out a ground ball for a single in the ninth inning against the Pirates at Busch Stadium on Sunday, April 16, 2023.

St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan loses the ball for a sixth inning fielding error on a ball hit by Pittsburgh Pirates Tucupita Marcano, scoring Canaan Smith-Njigba, at Busch Stadium on Sunday, April 16, 2023. Photo by Robert Cohen, [email protected]

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker keeps his thumb warm on a heater while playing against the Pittsburgh Pirates with temperatures in the 40s at Busch Stadium on Sunday, April 16, 2023. Photo by Robert Cohen, [email protected]

St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak sits in the dugout before playing the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium on Sunday, April 16, 2023. Photo by Robert Cohen, [email protected]

Fredbird celebrates the life of Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter during a family tribute to the pitcher before the St. Louis Cardinals play the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium on Sunday, April 16, 2023. Photo by Robert Cohen, [email protected]

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas reacts to giving up a run in the second inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium on Sunday, April 16, 2023. Photo by Robert Cohen, [email protected]

St. Louis Cardinals Willson Contreras celebrates a second inning hit with first base coach Stubby Clapp while playing the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium on Sunday, April 16, 2023. Photo by Robert Cohen, [email protected]

Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas, left, and catcher Willson Contreras review pitches in the dugout in a game against Pittsburgh on Sunday, April 16, 2023, at Busch Stadium. Mikolas allowed two earned runs in 5⅔ innings.

Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas works the third inning against the Pirates at Busch Stadium on Sunday, April 16, 2023.

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas reacts to giving up a run in the second inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium on Sunday, April 16, 2023. Photo by Robert Cohen, [email protected]

Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker waits in the dugout for the start of the game against the Pirates at Busch Stadium on Sunday, April 16, 2023.

Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak gives an air fist bump to catcher Willson Contreras before playing the Pirates at Busch Stadium on Sunday, April 16, 2023.

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Giovanny Gallegos works the ninth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium on Sunday, April 16, 2023. Photo by Robert Cohen, [email protected]

The Cardinals Nolan Arenado looks skyward after doubling in the eighth inning of a game on Sunday, April 16, 2023 — his 32nd birthday — at Busch Stadium.

Cardinals shortstop Tommy Edman handles a grounder hit by Pittsburgh's Connor Joe for a ninth inning out at Busch Stadium on Sunday, April 16, 2023.

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Andre Pallante works the sixth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium on Sunday, April 16, 2023. Photo by Robert Cohen, [email protected]

The Cardinals' Zack Thompson pitches against Pittsburgh in the seventh inning of a game on Sunday, April 16, 2023, at Busch Stadium.

In today's 10 a.m. "Ten Hochman" video, from the Siteman Cancer Center Studios, Ben Hochman discusses pitcher Jordan Hicks of the St. Louis Cardinals. Also, a happy birthday shoutout to Anthony Michael Hall! And as always, Hochman picks a random St. Louis Cards card from the hat. "Ten Hochman" is brought to you by St. Louis replacement window company Window Nation!

A nightly look at the day\'s top sports stories, and a first look at the topics St. Louis fans will be talking about tomorrow.

Lynn Worthy is the Cardinals beat writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The Cardinals gave up a five-run seventh inning in a 6-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Busch Stadium on April 17, 2023.

Cardinals' Tommy Edman's walk-off RBI single in the 10th inning gave the club a 5-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in 10 innings at Busch Stadium.