TOWER GROVE — In one of the most dominant World Series pitching performances of our era, Philadelphia Phillies lefty Cliff Lee tied-up one of the finest lineups in the game last night, striking out 10 New York Yankees and authoring a complete-game in Game 1 at (New) Yankee Stadium. It was, in short, arguably the best World Series start by a NL pitcher since Bob Gibson.

But is it better than Hoot’s?

Lee needed 122 pitches to…

TOWER GROVE — On the last day of the first half of the Major League Baseball season, the St. Louis Cardinals put the band back together and celebrated two returns — one actual, one implied.

With Kyle Lohse off the disabled list in time to make a start Sunday, that mustachioed mafia of starters had its five arms back in the rotation, ready and healthy for the second-half. With Ryan Ludwick reanimated on that road-trip finish…

TOWER GROVE — The St. Louis Cardinals showed a pulse offensively Tuesday night in Florida, but it still wasn’t enough as they failed to score more than three runs for the 12th time in 16 games. They have produced the fewest runs and the fewest baserunners in baseball since the beginning of May. They have the lowest on-base percentage (.276) this month in the National League.

But, hey, they conjured their fourth three-run inning in the…