Cardinals 6, Athletics 4
The St. Louis Cardinals erupted for four runs in the first inning, weathered a brief Athletics rally, and held on for a 6-4 victory Tuesday night to open their three-game series in Sacramento. JJ Wetherholt was the story of the evening, delivering a two-run home run in the sixth inning that proved to be the decisive blow. Additionally, José Fermín drove in two with a first-inning double and Jordan Walker continued to be on fire.
Cardinals Come Out Swinging
The St. Louis Cardinals wasted no time setting the tone for this matchup against the Athletics. Four runs crossed the plate in the first inning alone, chasing the Athletics into a hole they never fully recovered from. Jeffrey Springs labored through five innings, allowing four earned runs on seven hits with three walks and five strikeouts on 98 pitches. Joel Kuhnel surrendered two runs in the sixth inning while the Cardinals pounced on the opportunity, pushed their lead to six, and put the game out of reach.
Wetherholt Slams the Door
When the Athletics were starting to build momentum, second baseman JJ Wetherholt launched a two-run homer, extending the lead back to six and shutting down any comeback hopes from the Athletics. Wetherholt finished the night 1-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored — the most productive line in the Cardinals lineup.
Walker Stays Hot
It has almost become an expectation at this point. Jordan Walker stepped into the box and delivered again, going 1-for-4 with an RBI, a walk, and a run scored. The right fielder now has 10 home runs on the season and remains one of the most dangerous hitters in the National League.
What Went Right for the Cardinals
An Explosive First Inning
Four runs in the first inning set the tone immediately. The Cardinals came out aggressively against Jeffrey Springs, building a lead the Athletics were never able to overcome.
Herrera’s Consistency
Ivan Herrera presented one of the best individual efforts of the night, going 2-for-4with a run scored. His ability to put the bat on the ball and stay on base kept pressure on the Athletics throughout the evening.
What Went Wrong for the Cardinals
Pallante Still a Work in Progress
Andre Pallante kept the Cardinals in the lead but was hardly dominant. He gave up three runs on four hits and three walks over five innings. The three walks are particularly concerning against an Athletics lineup that struggled to hit. The Cardinals will need better starts from him if they want to stay competitive in the NL Central.
Leaving Runners on Base
The Cardinals went 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position. True, they scored six runs and still won the game, but they could have scored even more. This game would not have drawn as close as it did in the eighth and is a recurring theme worth monitoring as the Cardinals head deeper into May.
More Oakland Athletics Articles
More St. Louis Cardinals Articles
More MLB Articles
Quick Hits
- The St. Louis Cardinals improved to 24-17 with the victory, keeping pace in the NL Central race.
- This is game one of a three-game series.
Looking Ahead
The Cardinals-Athletics three-game series is set to continue Wednesday, May 13, 2026, with first pitch at 8:40 pm Central.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
- Categories
-
Oakland Athletics
St. Louis Cardinals
