Photos: Record low crowd beats the heat for a 4-1 Cardinals victory over San Diego
The announced attendance of 26,553 set the record for the smallest crowd to watch a ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals game in their current stadium as they beat at the San Diego Padres 4-1 on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024.
READ MORE: ‘Shocking,’ ‘jarring’: Sparse Cardinals crowds stun Padres broadcasters
Fans and players stand for the national anthem in a sparsely filled Busch Stadium as the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals face the San Diego Padres on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024 at Busch Stadium.
Cardinals rookie shortstop Masyn Winn is congratulated by first base coach Stubby Clapp after hitting a sixth-inning solo home run against the Padres on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, at Busch Stadium.
ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals outfielder Alec Burleson snags a ninth inning foul ball hit by San Diego Padres Jake Cronenworth, headed for a 4-1 win on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024 at Busch Stadium.
Fans and players stand for the national anthem before a sparsely attended Cardinals-Padres game on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, at Busch Stadium.
ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals catcher Pedro Pagés takes a selfie with a fan before playing the San Diego Padres on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024 at Busch Stadium.
ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray works the first inning against the San Diego Padres on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024 at Busch Stadium.
A sparsely filled Busch Stadium is seen on the first pitch of the game as the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals face the San Diego Padres on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024 at Busch Stadium.
Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray works the second inning against the Padres on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, at Busch Stadium.
Fredbird makes the rounds riding the warning track before player introductions inside a sparsely-filled Busch Stadium as the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals face the San Diego Padres on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024 at Busch Stadium.
ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals Iván Herrera pops out with the bases loaded in the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres, headed for a 4-1 win on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024 at Busch Stadium.
ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals pitcher Ryan Helsley works the ninth inning against the San Diego Padres to preserve a 4-1 win on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024 at Busch Stadium.
ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray is checked by a trainer after handling a ground ball hit by San Diego Padres Jurickson Profar in the sixth inning on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024 at Busch Stadium.
Fredbird celebrates a ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals 4-1 victory over the San Diego Padres, passing the bleachers on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024 at Busch Stadium.
ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals outfielders Alec Burleson, left, Victor Scott II and Lars Nootbaar celebrate after beating the San Diego Padres 4-1 win on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024 at Busch Stadium.
A ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals fan cools off in right field seating with temperatures in the 90s during a game against the San Diego Padres, a 4-1 win on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024 at Busch Stadium.
ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals pitcher Matthew Liberatore works the eighth inning against the San Diego Padres, headed for a 4-1 win on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024 at Busch Stadium.
Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan doubles in the fifth inning against the Padres on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, at Busch Stadium.
ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol drapes his arm around Tommy Pham as the two talk between innings against the San Diego Padres, headed for a 4-1 win on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024 at Busch Stadium.
Robert Cohen
Staff Photographer
Cardinals stars Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt offered high praise for the club's rookie shortstop Masyn Winn.
After dropping the first two games of a four-game series vs. the Padres, the Cardinals received a quality start from Sonny Gray on Thursday to help get back to .500.
Cardinals starter Sonny Gray completed six innings and allowed one run, and the Cardinals received RBIs from four different players in a 4-1 win over the Padres at Busch Stadium.
Padres radio broadcaster Jesse Agler called the Cardinals crowd at Busch Stadium "stunningly, shockingly empty for a team that is, theoretically at least, in the playoff conversation."