What happened: Alec Burleson gave the Cardinals the first run of the night against the Padres in San Diego, and ESPN's in-game update said the matchup was tied after the early scoring burst. The play came in the second game of ESPN's Thursday MLB doubleheader, with St. Louis visiting Petco Park.

Why it matters: This was a routine regular-season game, but it carried weight for two clubs that entered play in strong positions in their divisions. St. Louis came in 21-15 and chasing the Cubs in the NL Central, while San Diego was 22-14 and within a game of the Dodgers in the NL West, so even a single swing could matter in a tight early-May race.

What to watch: Watch whether Burleson's blast turns into a bigger Cardinals push or whether San Diego answers quickly at home. The next meaningful update is whether either bullpen gets exposed in what started as a nationally televised toss-up.