Rangers 7, Cardinals 4
The St. Louis Cardinals led for much of Tuesday night before the Texas Rangers rallied for three runs in the ninth inning to take a 7-4 victory at Busch Stadium. Riley O’Brien took the loss after allowing three runs in the ninth. Dustin May struck out nine across 5 2/3 innings but allowed three runs. Nolan Gorman homered for the Cardinals and Nathan Eovaldi took a no-decision after allowing four runs across six innings for the Rangers. Cal Quantrill earned the win, and Jakob Junis closed it out with the save.
Cardinals Strike First
The Cardinals jumped out to an early lead against Eovaldi. They plated one run in the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. In the fourth, Gorman led off with a home run to push the advantage to 2-0. Eovaldi labored through six innings, allowing 11 hits and four earned runs while striking out seven on 93 pitches. The Cardinals had opportunities to add more throughout the game, going 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position, but left enough on the table to keep the Rangers within striking distance.
Rangers Chip Away at May
May kept the Rangers scoreless through four innings before running into trouble. The Rangers scored two runs in the fifth, tying the game at two. May allowed another run in the sixth before exiting with two outs, finishing with five hits, three earned runs, nine strikeouts, and two walks across 5 2/3 innings on 90 pitches. JoJo Romero came on to finish the sixth, striking out Evan Carter to retire the side. Romero also pitched the seventh but allowed a run, pushing the Rangers ahead 4-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh.
Cardinals Rally, Rangers Answer
The Cardinals responded in the seventh with two runs to tie the game at four. They came with Jalen Beeks on the mound, but they were inherited from Eovaldi.
George Soriano and Gordon Graceffo combined to hold the Rangers scoreless in the eighth, keeping the game tied. However, O’Brien faltered in the ninth. Joc Pederson, Kyle Higashioka, and Josh Jung did the most damage, combining for three hits and three RBI in the frame to push the Rangers lead to 7–4. The Cardinals went down in order in the bottom of the ninth against Junis to end it.
What Went Right for the Rangers
Pederson Leads the Offense
Pederson was the Rangers’ most productive hitter, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI. He was a consistent threat throughout the lineup and delivered when it mattered most in the ninth inning rally.
Higashioka Stays Hot
Higashioka went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored — his second consecutive multi-hit game of the series. His ability to make contact at the top of the Rangers order kept pressure on the Cardinals pitching staff all night.
Junis Slams the Door
After O’Brien’s damaging ninth, Junis came on and pitched around a two-out single to earn the save. It was an efficient, commanding performance that ended any hope of a Cardinals comeback.
What Went Right for the Cardinals
May’s Strikeout Numbers
Nine strikeouts across 5 2/3 innings is an encouraging sign for a Cardinals rotation that has struggled for consistency. May battled through traffic all night and kept the Cardinals in the game long enough to give the offense a chance.
Gorman’s Home Run
Gorman’s leadoff home run in the fourth gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead and was the biggest swing of the first half of the game. Going 1-for-3 with a home run, an RBI, and a run scored, Gorman provided the Cardinals with their most impactful individual at-bat of the night.
13 Hits on the Night
The Cardinals collected 13 hits — their best offensive output in several games. Wetherholt went 2-for-5, Burleson went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI, Winn went 2-for-5, and Crooks went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. The offense showed signs of life that have been absent over the previous series.
What Went Wrong for the Ranger
Eovaldi Allowed Too Much Contact
Eovaldi surrendered 11 hits and four earned runs across six completed innings, facing four hitters in the seventh without retiring any of them. Against a Cardinals lineup that had been struggling offensively, that level of contact is a concern heading into future starts.
Runners Left on Base
The Rangers went 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Carter finished 1-for-4 despite reaching base twice, and Burger went hitless in five at-bats, leaving additional runs on the table throughout the night.
What Went Wrong for the Cardinals
O’Brien’s Ninth Inning Collapse
A 4-4 tie game became a 7-4 deficit on O’Brien’s watch. Three hits and three earned runs in one inning on 32 pitches ended the Cardinals’ chances entirely. Pederson, Higashioka, and Jung all came through in the clutch against him, and O’Brien had no answer for any of them.
Romero Allows the Go-Ahead Run
After May exited with two outs in the sixth, Romero allowed a run in 2/3 of an inning that gave the Rangers their first lead of the game. It was a costly appearance that shifted the momentum in the Rangers favor heading into the seventh.
Runners Left on Base
Despite 13 hits, the Cardinals scored only four runs. Going 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position meant the Cardinals consistently left opportunity on the table. In a game that came down to one run through eight innings, those missed chances proved to be the difference.
Quick Hits
- The Cardinals fell to 30-28 with the loss, dropping the first two games of the series to the Rangers.
- Wetherholt, Burleson, Winn, and Crooks each collected two hits for the Cardinals.
- Jung finished 1-for-5 with two RBI for the Rangers, delivering the biggest blow of the ninth inning rally.
Looking Ahead
Cal Quantrill (3-0, 2.49 ERA) earned the win for the Rangers as Riley O’Brien (3-3, 4.10) took the loss for the Cardinals, both in relief. Jakob Junis earned the save.
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The Cardinals and Rangers wrap up their three-game series Wednesday, June 3 at 6:45 pm Central at Busch Stadium. Starting for the Rangers is left-hander MacKenzie Gore (4-4, 3.96) against the Cardinals Andre Pallante (5-4, 4.19)
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