During the pre-game ceremony before the St. Louis Cardinals faced the Chicago Cubs on Saturday, Alvin Kamara of the New Orleans Saints struggled with his first pitch, leading to a rare interaction. After his initial throw fell short and bounced near the edge of the infield, Kamara quickly requested a redo. A lifelong Cubs supporter, Kamara faced boos from the Wrigley Field crowd during the event. The 29-year-old NFL star is set to be in Chicago again for NASCAR’s Grant Park 165 Street Race on Sunday.
In the game, the Cardinals overcame an 8-6 deficit against the Cubs to end their four-game losing streak. Yohel Pozo hit a three-run homer, sparking a five-run rally in the eighth inning, and Nolan Gorman also contributed with a home run. The Cardinals took a two-run lead after the seventh inning, aided by home runs from Michael Bush and Carson Kelly on back-to-back days. Relief pitcher Stephen Mats secured five outs for the win, with Ryan Helsley closing out the game on his 17th save. Starter Matthew Liberatore gave up two runs on four hits in five innings.
Fan Take: This crossover moment between NFL and MLB highlights the growing connection between sports fans and players across different leagues, offering a fresh boost to fan engagement. For NFL supporters, seeing a star like Alvin Kamara involved in high-profile baseball events signals more opportunities for athletes to expand their brand and influence beyond football.
