For a moment, it appeared reliever JoJo Romero had frozen Mariners pinch hitter Rob Refsnyder and nudged the Cardinals one out closer to the bottom of the ninth inning with the game still tied.
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Photos: Solo home run in ninth sinks Cardinals with a 3-2 loss against Mariners
Cardinals left fielder Nathan Church (27) watches a solo home run by the Mariners' Rob Refsnyder go over the wall to give the Mariners a 3-2 lead in the ninth inning of a game Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jojo Romero (59) reacts after Seattle Mariners Rob Refsnyder (30) hits a solo home run in the the ninth inning to give the Mariners a 3-2 lead in game between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
Seattle Mariners third baseman Leo Rivas (76) catches a pop up by St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt (26) to end the ninth inning to and give the Mariners a 3-2 win over the Cardinals on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Ryne Stanek (55) celebrates striking out Seattle Mariners Julio Rodríguez (44) to end the eighth inning during a game between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals Cardinals JJ Wetherholt (26) celebrates his solo home run off Seattle Mariners pitcher Emerson Hancock (26) with teammates in the third inning of a game between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Ryne Stanek (55) celebrates striking out Seattle Mariners Julio Rodríguez (44) to end the eighth inning during a game between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals Nathan Church (27) celebrates hitting a solo home run off Seattle Mariners pitcher Emerson Hancock (26) in the sixth inning to give the Cardinals a 2-1 lead during a game between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
Cardinals pitcher Michael McGreevy, left, congratulates outfielder Nathan Church after Church gave the Cardinals a 2-1 lead with a solo home run off Mariners pitcher Emerson Hancock (26) in the sixth inning of a game Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Pedro Pagés (43) watches a game between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium. Pages left the game last night with a left hamstring injury.
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Matt Svanson (49) walks back tot he mound after allowing a RBI single to Seattle Mariners Cole Young (2) to tie the game in the seventh inning during a game between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals Nathan Church (27) celebrates hitting a solo home run off Seattle Mariners pitcher Emerson Hancock (26) in the sixth inning to give the Cardinals a 2-1 lead during a game between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Iván Herrera (48) congratulates pitcher Michael McGreevy (36) after McGreevy after struck out Seattle Mariners Randy Arozarena (56) with two runners on base to end the sixth inning of a game between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals Nathan Church (27) celebrates hitting a solo home run off Seattle Mariners pitcher Emerson Hancock (26) in the sixth inning to give the Cardinals a 2-1 lead during a game between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Michael McGreevy (36) reacts after striking out Seattle Mariners Randy Arozarena (56) with two runners on base to end the sixth inning of a game between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
A St. Louis Cardinals trainer and manager Oli Marmol tend to Cardinals Ramón Urías (29) after he was hit by a pitch by Seattle Mariners pitcher Emerson Hancock (26) with teammates in the third inning of a game between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
A trainer runs out to St. Louis Cardinals Ramón Urías (29) after he was hit by a pitch by Seattle Mariners pitcher Emerson Hancock (26) with teammates in the third inning of a game between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Michael McGreevy (36) walks back to the dugout after striking out Seattle Mariners Cole Young (2) to end the fifth inning of a game between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Michael McGreevy (36) reacts as Seattle Mariners Cal Raleigh (29) rounds third base after hitting a solo home run to tie the game in the fourth inning of a game between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals Cardinals JJ Wetherholt (26) celebrates his solo home run off Seattle Mariners pitcher Emerson Hancock (26) with teammates in the third inning of a game between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals JJ Wetherholt (26) celebrates his solo home run off Seattle Mariners pitcher Emerson Hancock (26) in the third inning of a game between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn (0) throws his bat after striking out to Seattle Mariners pitcher Emerson Hancock (26) with two runners on base to end the third inning of a game between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals Iván Herrera (48) jumps to celebrate Cardinals JJ Wetherholt (26) solo home run off Seattle Mariners pitcher Emerson Hancock (26) in the third inning of a game between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals JJ Wetherholt (26) rounds first base on his solo home run off Seattle Mariners pitcher Emerson Hancock (26) in the third inning of a game between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Iván Herrera (48) and starting pitcher Michael McGreevy (36) before the start of a gam between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals Ramón Urías (29) singles off Seattle Mariners pitcher Emerson Hancock (26) in the second inning of a game between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael McGreevy (36) reacts to striking out Seattle Mariners Cal Raleigh (29) in the first inning of game between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker (18) catches a line drive hit by Seattle Mariners Luke Raley (20) for an out in the second inning of a game between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Justin Bruihl (47) beats a throw to Seattle Mariners first baseman Connor Joe (9) for a single in the second inning of a game between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals Iván Herrera (48) celebrates toward the dugout after hitting a double off Seattle Mariners pitcher Emerson Hancock (26) in the first inning of a game between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (37) high-fives Cardinals left fielder Nathan Church (27) before the start of a gam between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Michael McGreevy (36) pitches to Seattle Mariners Luke Raley (20) in the second inning of a game between the Cardinals and the Mariners on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
The Seattle Mariners celebrate their 3-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
