Cardinals Rally to Nip Athletics

Ivan Herrera of the Cardinals running out a home run against the Athletics

Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images

September 2, 2025

Cardinals 2, Athletics 1

ST. LOUIS (Sept. 2) — A two-run sixth-inning homer by Ivan Herrera gave the St. Louis Cardinals a 2–1 victory over the Athletics in an hour and 55 minutes Tuesday night at Busch Stadium. One day after the Athletics won an 11–3 blowout, Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas kept the Athletics almost entirely off the scoreboard. He allowed one earned run on five hits across six innings, walking one and striking out none.

Athletics – Cardinals Game Summary

The Athletics took a 1–0 lead in the top of the third after a pair of doubles. JJ Bleday hit the first one and reached third when right fielder Nathan Church misplayed the ball off the wall. Bleday scored when Nick Kurtz doubled to the gap in right-center.

Severino left the game after five innings with the Athletics nursing a 1–0 lead. In the sixth, the Cardinals took a 2–1 lead off the relief combo of Hogan Harris and Michael Kelly. Harris walked the leadoff hitter, and with two outs and that runner on third, Kelly entered the game to pitch to Ivan Herrera, who homered Monday. Herrera made it two games in a row with a two-run lead-flipping blast to left-center.

“Tried to go sweeper,” Kelly said. “We were trying to get it away. I left it middle-in, and he got it. Missed execution. That’s baseball.”

Matt Svanson and JoJo Romero slammed the door on the Athletics in the seventh through ninth innings. Svanson pitched two hitless and scoreless innings, striking out two and walking one. Romero closed the game with a 1-2-3 ninth for his sixth save of the season.

What Went Right for the Athletics

Starting Pitching

Luis Severino held the Cardinals scoreless through five innings, allowing three hits while walking one and striking out four of the sixteen batters he faced. He was on a 65-pitch limit due to this being his first game back from an injury. Severino tossed 61, 35 for strikes, in an efficient outing.

“Knowing in my mind that I have 65 pitches, from now on, that’s gotta be my mindset,” Severino said. “When I know I have that many pitches, I have to throw strikes, get people out quickly. So that was my main focus. Don’t waste pitches — just attack hitters.”

“(Severino) did a phenomenal job pounding the zone, utilizing his pitch count and getting through five innings,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “Can’t really ask for anything more than that — less than 65 pitches and cruising along.”

Pickoff Move

Severino made a key pickoff in the bottom of the third that might have saved a run. There were runners on the corners with one out and Lars Nootbaar at the plate. Severino quickly spun and fired to first, catching Church leaning.

“He has quick feet,” Kotsay said. “Guys with quick feet can get the ball out of their hand quickly and get it over to the base, as we saw tonight.”

When asked what the secret was to his move, Severino grinned and joked, “I’m just the best at it.” After the chuckles subsided, he said in seriousness that it came from the dugout, they knew Church was going, and “Nick (Kurtz) is a great first baseman, too.”

Extra-Base Hits

Four of the Athletics’ five hits went for extra bases, all doubles.

What Went Wrong for the Athletics

Runners Left in Scoring Position

However, the Athletics only had one inning where they cracked multiple hits, meaning they stranded three (of five) runners in scoring position.

Miles Mikolas

Mikolas’ line was mentioned earlier; however, there is more to it. The only walk Mikolas allowed was an intentional walk of Nick Kurtz. This meant that he walked one intentionally and didn’t walk anyone else. The last time a Cardinals pitcher did that was in 2000. Furthermore, in the top of the fourth, Tyler Soderstrom led off with a single to right, Shea Langeliers followed with a popup to second, and Lawrence Butler grounded into a side-retiring double play — each on the first pitch. Yes, that means that the Athletics were on the business end of a three-pitch inning.

The Bottom of the Sixth Inning

Leadoff walks often come back to haunt a pitcher, and Tuesday night was no exception. Victor Scott II walked, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, advanced to third on a groundout, then scored on the Herrera homer, the only two runs the Cardinals scored all night.

Looking Ahead

Mikolas (7–10, 4.89 ERA) earned the win, with Kelly (4–3, 2.97 ERA) taking the dreaded blown save-loss double whammy in relief. As mentioned earlier, Romero closed for his sixth save of the season.

The Athletics (64–76) and Cardinals (69–71) will conclude their three-game series Wednesday evening with a duel of lefties. Jeffrey Springs (10–9, 4.17 ERA) of the Athletics will face Matthew Liberatore (6–11, 4.32 ERA) of the Cardinals. First pitch will be at 6:45 pm Central/4:45 pm Pacific.