Cardinals vs Pirates recap: Smash! Atoms! walkoff! dinger! 2-0! Cards!

Honestly, this is all you really need to know:

But to elaborate a bit:

The game started about 45 minutes late as big, scary clouds cloaked Busch Stadium. No rain actually fell, but it sure looked grim.

After the non-rain delay, Adam Wainwright took the mound to duel the Pirates Charlie Morton. Oscar Taveras was out of the lineup again, for reasons known only to Mike Matheny's magic 8-ball.

Waino didn't start out looking super sharp, giving up a single to Starling Marte and walking Neil Walker. With two on and two out, Russel Martin was hit by pitch. Since Martin looked like he was trying to give the baseball a flying elbow drop rather than getting out of the way, home plate ump Alan Porter declined to award him first base. Martin would ultimately fly out to Holliday to end the inning.

And then the rains sort of came. Crew chief Joe West called for the tarp during a brief light rain. After the hard working Busch Stadium grounds crew removed the tarp and prepared for play again, the skies opened and it poured. Cowboy Joe called for the tarp to come back out yet again, but the rain dialed back to a light drizzle almost immediately. Almost as though something or someone(s) were showing their displeasure about something by toying with the weather. Ahem.

Wainwright battled through 7 innings, giving up 7 hits and 3 walks, striking out 5. But the important number: 0 runs. Adam was helped out by double plays in the second and third.

Meanwhile, Morton was trying to salt away a shutout of his own. Through 7 innings, Cardinals bats managed 1 hit against the northpaw. Josh Harrison was not helpful either, stealing a hit from Jhonny Peralta in the second.

After 7 innings, 112 pitches and twoish rain delays, Wainwright gave way to Sam Freeman for the 8th. He made it tough on himself, allowing a single to Walker, and walking Gaby Sanchez. An error by Kolten Wong on a Jordy Mercer grounder loaded the bases. Freeman was able to come back and strikeout Gregory Polanco on a  down and away slider to end the threat.

In the bottom of the frame, Jon Jay facing lefty Tony Watson singled into left. Wong was able sac bunt him into scoring position. But it all came undone when pinch-hitting Oscar Taveras ripped a liner to right, caught by Mercer. Jay was caught trying to advance and was doubled off second.

All-Star Pat Neshek took care of the 9th, giving the Cardinals their only inning of the game without a runner reaching base.

And in the bottom of the 9th: SMASH! ATOMS!

It's been awhile:

Matt Adams with the #STLCards first walk-off homer since Skip Schumaker did it against the Royals (6/19/11).

— Jenifer Langosch (@LangoschMLB) July 8, 2014

Your graph of joy:

<iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=300&w=500&date=2014-07-07&team=Cardinals&dh=0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="300" width = "500" style="border:1px solid black;"></iframe><br /><span style="font-size:9pt;">Source: <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2014-07-07&team=Cardinals&dh=0&season=2014">FanGraphs</a></span>

They're back at it tomorrow as El Gallo Carlos Martinez goes against Vance Worley. First pitch at 7:15.