The Latest Breaking News from Stuart Fairchild

ST. LOUIS — The Cardinals took the weekend series from the Cincinnati Reds three games to two but they were fortunate to achieve that result considering the slow-to-warm offense they trotted out for most of the four days at Busch Stadium.

CINCINNATI — It twice took five infielders and two outs at home plate in extra innings for the Cardinals to flaunt their stellar defense and give their offense opportunity after opportunity to do something, anything. It didn’t even have to be stellar, just substantive.

PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies could have done more damage offensively against the Reds than they did on Wednesday night, but they worked their at-bats and manufactured enough runs to secure a 7-5 win. Starter Cris Sánchez and the Phillies’ already-thin bullpen made this game more exciting than it needed to…

On the day the Yankees lost part of their rotation to injury, Luis Castillo gave them a very good look at his ability to shut down a good lineup. The Reds ace, no-hit the Yankees for five innings and in the battle of the bullpens that followed, the Bombers’ taxed…