I love how pundits think the Cards are above retaliation and use game situations to explain it away. Yeah, that's what they want you to think, that they wouldn't put the leadoff hitter on in a tight game.
I saw a Cardinal batter get hit in a situation when the Giant pitcher wasn't throwing at him. Every HBP doesn't require tit for tat and yes......I said tit.
And intention isn't always taken into account every time there's retaliation, sometimes that's the message.