Springs Pitches Well, but Cardinals Hand Athletics Tough Loss

Jacob Wilson of the Athletics leaping after turning a double play against the Cardinals

Photo by Rick Ulreich/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

September 3, 2025

Cardinals 5, Athletics 1

ST. LOUIS (Sept. 3) — Four RBI from Willson Contreras on a pair of hits that were lost in the lights powered the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5–1 win over the Athletics Wednesday night.

Jeffrey Springs took a tough loss for the Athletics after six rather strong innings went for naught. Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore was effective in his short start, holding the Athletics scoreless in 5 1/3 innings. He allowed four hits while walking one and striking out seven.

Nick Kurtz drove in the Athletics’ only run with a no-doubt homer to left, his 28th of the season. He had a late injury concern that turned out to be nothing, much to the relief of the Athletics.

Athletics – Cardinals Game Summary

The Cardinals took a 2–0 lead in the bottom of the third on a two-out, two-run single to right by Contreras. It scored Masyn Winn from second and Ivan Herrera from first. Contreras tried to stretch it into a double or at least take second on the throw home. But a strong throw to second by Athletics catcher Willie MacIver retired Contreras and ended the inning.

The Cardinals extended their lead to 3–0 in the bottom of the seventh with a one-out homer to center by Nolan Gorman. The Athletics got the run back in the top of the eighth with the Kurtz homer. But the Cardinals grabbed two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth after another pair of Contreras RBI. He hit a sinking liner to left that Tyler Soderstrom could not catch on a dive. When the ball got past Soderstrom, Contreras had a two-run triple, bringing the game to its final score of 5–1.

Kurtz Injury Scare, at Least Briefly

Kurtz, the rookie sensation, caught a pickoff attempt awkwardly in the eighth inning, leaving him with a sore pinky on his right (glove) hand. “It’ll be okay,” he nonchalantly said before mentioning that he was getting ready to hit in the ninth. Kurtz had precautionary x-rays on site that were negative.

What Went Right for the Athletics

Starting Pitching

Springs recorded a Quality Start for the Athletics, giving them a chance to win. He allowed two earned runs on five hits, walking one and striking out four. His only two runs allowed came in the third on the Contreras single that right fielder Brent Rooker lost in the lights. “Jeffrey threw the ball well,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “We had a couple of opportunities to make plays. Lost balls in the lights. Gave up four runs tonight that, if we make plays, it’s a different game. So it’s unfortunate.”

“Over the course of 162 (games), there are going to be a lot of things that go in your favor and things that don’t,” Springs said. “Unfortunately, they (the Cardinals) were able to score two runs and then pull away there late.”

What Went Wrong for the Athletics

Missed Scoring Opportunities

The Athletics had runners in scoring position on four separate occasions but did not convert any into runs. They were 1-for-10 with no RBI with runners in scoring position. This made the second straight night that the Athletics scored one run after opening the series with an 11–3 win. “We’ve been through these stretches,” Kotsay said. “Offensively, you’re going to go through these stretches. It’s two games. We’ve got an off-day tomorrow. We’re going to Anaheim, and we’ll focus on that series now.”

“We’ve had our hot streaks, so to speak, and then we’ve had our lows,” Springs said. “(We need to) try to eliminate the lows that we have and be a little bit more consistent, because we have a really good offense.”

Rooker feels that the Athletics don’t need to change the overall approach. “We scored 11 runs two days ago, so obviously what we’re doing is working,” Rooker said. “If you look over the course of the 141 games now, the track record speaks for itself. What we do offensively works. Stick with that over the last (21) games here, know that it works, and know that one through nine are very good. (And) whoever’s not in the game also can come in and impact the game immediately. So no need to change anything — just stick with what we’ve done for the whole season.”

Relief Pitching

Elvis Alvarado gave up a run in the seventh on the Gorman home run. Tyler Ferguson yielded two runs in the eighth when Soderstrom lost the sinking Contreras liner in the lights. The Athletics have now given up at least one run in relief for six straight games, with their last scoreless relief day coming during their 7–0 victory over the Detroit Tigers on August 27.

Lost Two in the Lights

As mentioned earlier, the two-run Contreras single in the third and two-run triple in the eighth both received help from the Busch Stadium lights.

“Had a good read on it,” Rooker said. “Felt like I was tracking it, and then just kind of went in that light tower. And I tried to wait for it to come out and make a play, and it just never kind of came out. Sucks. I got to find a way to make that catch.”

Quick Hits

Springs has allowed two earned runs or fewer in four consecutive road starts dating back to July 25 at Houston (the Nick Kurtz game), which is the longest such streak of his career. … This was Springs’ sixth straight start without recording a win since August 6 at Washington, which is the longest such streak of his career as a starter. … With his third-inning single, Jacob Wilson chalked up his 130th hit of the season. He is the first Athletics primary shortstop with 130 or more hits in a season since Marcus Semien had 187 in 2019. … Kurtz’s eighth-inning homer was his 28th of the season, the most by an Athletics rookie since Mark McGwire hit 49 en route to the 1987 AL Rookie of the Year. McGwire’s 49 stood as the AL rookie record until Aaron Judge smashed 52 for the New York Yankees in 2017.

Potential Rooker Single-Season Milestones

Rooker has recorded six doubles in his last eight games. His two Wednesday night gave him 37, which was third in the American League at the end of play Wednesday night. He also sits at 27 home runs.

When asked what hitting 40 doubles in the season would mean to him, he responded, “If I don’t hit 30 homers, it’ll make it better if I hit 40 doubles, so that’s kind of where I am. (Laugh) No, it would be cool. Either one of those would be great. I’m happy with the year that I’ve put out there. I’ve grown in a lot of ways, evolved as a hitter over the last two seasons, and I’m happy with where I am. Whichever statistical milestones I hit would be great, and even if I don’t, it won’t take away from me being proud of what I’m doing.”

The Athletics had one player hit 40+ doubles recently, and they also had a 30+ homer season recently. JJ Bleday whacked 43 doubles last season, and Rooker clobbered 39 homers in the same season. Rooker also had 30 homers in 2023, so reaching 30 in 2025 would give him three straight 30+ homer seasons. Only seven Athletics have ever accomplished this feat, with Miguel Tejada (2000-02) being the last. The others are Jose Canseco (1986-88), Khris Davis (2016-18), Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx (1929-35, seven straight), Jason Giambi (1999-2001), Dave Kingman (1985-87), and McGwire (four straight from 1987-90 and three straight from 1995-97). Additionally, if Rooker were to get both 40+ doubles and 30+ homers, he would only be the fifth Athletics player to ever reach both milestones in the same season, joining Semien (2019), Eric Chavez (2001), Giambi (2001), and Hall of Famer Al Simmons (1929, 1930).

Springs on His Changeup

Springs said his changeup was merely “okay.” When asked to expound, here is what he said:

“Not a lot of horizontal movement. It’s kind of been a battle again all year, still trying to get it back to what it was pre-surgery (and) what I’m used to it doing from a profile standpoint. It typically can run right-handed hitters out-of-bat. But here lately, I’ve been having to go below the zone, because it’s not running like I want it to. But again, it’s a combination of things I’m trying to get dialed in. It’s trending in the right direction. But it’s also tough to fix in-season when you’re trying to just compete.”

Looking Ahead

Liberatore (7–11) nabbed the win as Springs (10–10) took the tough loss. Romero notched his seventh save.

The Athletics (64–77) and Cardinals (70–71) both have Thursday off before resuming their schedules Friday. In Anaheim, California, the Athletics will open a three-game intradivision series with the Los Angeles Angels (66–73). Rookie Athletics right-hander Mason Barnett (0–1), in his second career appearance and start, will face Angels righty Jose Soriano (10–9, 3.68 ERA). First pitch will be at 6:38 pm Pacific. In St. Louis, the Cardinals will continue their homestand with a three-game interdivision series with the NL West’s San Francisco Giants (71–69). Cardinals right-hander Michael McGreevy (6–2, 4.17 ERA)) will start against Giants right-hander Carson Seymour (0–2, 4.74 ERA). First pitch will be at 7:15 pm Central. The weekend series will see Edgar Renteria and Al Hrabosky inducted into the Cardinals Hall of Fame.