Bleday Homers Twice, Athletics Rout Cardinals

JJ Bleday of the Athletics celebrating a home run against the Cardinals

Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

September 1, 2025

Athletics 11, Cardinals 3

ST. LOUIS (Sept. 1) — JJ Bleday went 2-for-5 with two homers, three RBI, and three runs scored to lead the visiting Athletics to an 11–3 rout over the St. Louis Cardinals Monday afternoon.

The Athletics teed off on Cardinals starter Sonny Gray, tagging him with seven earned runs on ten hits in six innings. They snapped a three-game losing streak with the win. “It felt good,” Bleday said of the win. “It’s crazy. You sweep the best team in baseball, the Tigers, and then get swept. That’s just baseball at times, and we’ve got to keep cracking away and do our best to find a way to put runs on the board.”

Athletics – Cardinals Game Summary

The Athletics took a 3–0 lead in the top of the fourth on back-to-back two-out homers off Gray. Both went to the right side, a two-run liner to straightaway right by Bleday and a solo shot to the home bullpen in right-center by Zack Gelof. Ivan Herrera responded in the bottom half with a first-pitch leadoff bomb to “Big Mac Land” in left.

The Athletics made it a 5–1 game in the top of the sixth after an RBI single by Colby Thomas and a solo homer to right by Bleday, a 428-foot missile. It became a 5–2 game in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single to center by Masyn Wynn. The Athletics took a 7–2 lead in the top of the seventh after a Brent Rooker ground-rule double and a Tyler Soderstrom single. They extended the lead to 9–2 in the top of the eighth on an RBI groundout by Willie MacIver and an RBI single by Lawrence Butler.

RBI doubles by Jacob Wilson and Soderstrom later in the inning turned the game into an 11–2 rout. The Cardinals nabbed a consolation run in the ninth to bring the score to an 11–3 final.

What Went Right for the Athletics

Converting Opportunities

The Athletics batted 6-for-17 (.353) with runners in scoring position. “We had a meeting earlier today — show up and be ready to score runs by any means possible,” Bleday said. “Find a way to get on base, find a way to grind at-bats out with two strikes. We’ve been doing a really good job of that and today showed it.”

“We’ve harped on it all year, and I think we’ve done a great job,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “I saw a stat during either the Detroit series or the last series that talked about our opposite field hitting. I think we’re top five in the league in driving the baseball the other way, and doing it with some power, too. So it says a lot about the guys staying up the middle, going the other way, and utilizing what works with runners in scoring position.

Starting Pitching

Morales allowed two earned runs on five hits across 5 2/3 innings. Additionally, he walked one and struck out a career-high eight. He said afterwards through interpreter Ramon Hernandez that all his pitches were working and that he was focusing on his location. “And I was doing it pretty well,” he said.

“Morales continued to throw the baseball the way he has the last few starts,” Kotsay said. “He’s really gaining a lot of confidence and attacking hitters. Overall, the performance was great.”

Relief Pitching

With the Athletics clinging to a 5–2 lead in the bottom of the sixth, Justin Sterner relieved Morales with two outs and runners on first and second. He got Thomas Saggese — the potential tying run — to pop up to the second baseman for the third out. “Really big momentum shifter in the game,” Kotsay said. “That’s a big, big, big out for us to keep the score there at 5–2. And for Sterner, he’s done a great job all season. Early on, he was lights out. I think he got a little bit tired — shoulder, elbow. Had to get him a reset. Since he’s been back, he’s been great.”

Overall, Sterner and Monday call-up Scott McGough — a 2023 pennant winner whom the Arizona Diamondbacks let go earlier this season — combined to limit the Cardinals to one run on three hits, striking out four and walking none across 3 1/3 innings.

What Went Wrong for the Athletics

Sixth-inning Baserunning

Not that it mattered as far as the final outcome, but in the sixth, the Athletics made two outs at second on “baserunning” plays. The first came when Colby Thomas drove Darell Hernaiz in with a single up the middle. On the throw home, Thomas tried to take second. He was successful initially but overslid the bag, where shortstop Masyn Winn tagged him for the first out of the inning. Later in the inning, Zack Gelof was thrown out at second on a failed stolen base attempt.

Careless Defense in Ninth

Hernaiz charged hard at third on a slow bouncer off the bat of Thomas Saggese and tried to “olé” it. He missed, and by the time the Athletics could gather the baseball and throw it in, Saggese had reached second on a gift double. He later scored to spoil an otherwise scoreless outing by McGough.

Quotes

“Luis is such a good talent and one of the most flexible kids I’ve ever met, too,” Bleday said. “The electric stuff — the sky’s the limit for him. If he keeps doing what he’s doing and keeps asking questions, keeps showing up, he’s going to be really good for a long time.” — JJ Bleday on Luis Morales

Quick Hits

In each of their last four wins, the Athletics have scored seven runs or more. … Monday saw them hit their third pair of back-to-back home runs, their first since August 17 and second involving JJ Bleday. … This was their fifth straight series-opening win against a National League opponent. … Six of their twelve double-digit run totals this season have come against NL teams. … Their 15 hits Monday were their most in any game against the Cardinals in franchise history, including the postseason. The Athletics faced the Cardinals in the 1930 and 1931 World Series, both while still in Philadelphia.

Looking Ahead

Morales (3–0) took the win as Gray (12–8) took the loss. There was no save.

The Athletics (64–75) and Cardinals (68–71) will play the second game of their three-game set Tuesday evening in St. Louis. It will be a battle of righties, Luis Severino (6–11, 4.82 ERA) for the Athletics and Miles Mikolas (6–10, 5.04 ERA) for the Cardinals. First pitch will be at 6:45 pm Central/4:45 pm Pacific.