Cardinals Edge Diamondbacks in Opener

Masyn Winn and JJ Wetherholt of the Cardinals celebrating a win over the Diamondbacks

Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images

June 23, 2026

Cardinals 3, Diamondbacks 2

The St. Louis Cardinals opened their series with a 3-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Busch Stadium. Andre Pallante allowed one run over six innings to earn the win, and three relievers combined to protect the lead. Nathan Church had two hits and drove in a run for the Cardinals. Riley O’Brien pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 19th save, while Merrill Kelly took the loss for the Diamondbacks.

Cardinals Build an Early Lead

The Cardinals broke through with one run against Kelly in the third inning and added two to the lead in the fourth. Church, Alec Burleson, and Blaze Jordan each drove in a run. Masyn Winn, Lars Nootbaar, and Church scored them.

Kelly completed six innings but was tagged for three runs on seven hits. He struck out two and walked three. Taylor Clarke followed with 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief.

Pallante Cruises

Pallante was efficient throughout. The right-hander scattered six hits over six innings on 85 pitches, allowing one run with two strikeouts and no walks. The Diamondbacks scored their first run in the sixth inning on Nolan Arenado‘s RBI groundout, which brought home Corbin Carroll and cut the deficit to 3-1. Pallante stranded the rest and handed the game to his team with a two-run cushion.

Relievers Hold On

The Diamondbacks scratched out a run in the seventh when Tommy Troy homered off Ryne Stanek to pull within 3-2. George Soriano and JoJo Romero kept them off the board the rest of the way, and O’Brien retired the side in the ninth to close it out. After Pallante’s exit, the Cardinals’ relievers combined to limit the Diamondbacks to the lone Troy home run.

What Went Right for the Cardinals

Pallante’s Six Strong

One run, no walks, six innings. Pallante pounded the strike zone and handed a lead to the Cardinals, exactly the kind of outing the team needed to open the series.

Church Leads the Offense

Church went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, the most productive line in the lineup. He was a factor on both sides of the ledger.

O’Brien Slams the Door

O’Brien pitched a perfect ninth for his 19th save. Romero and Soriano bridged the gap with scoreless relief after Pallante departed.

What Went Wrong for the Cardinals

Missed Chances With Runners On

The Cardinals collected seven hits but went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position. They left the door open for a closer game than necessary, though the Cardinals ensured it would not matter.

Stanek’s Seventh

Stanek surrendered Troy’s home run and recorded only two outs, briefly tightening a game the Cardinals had controlled.

Quick Hits

The Cardinals improved to 42-34 with the win as the Diamondbacks fell to 39-39.
The Cardinals went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position; the Diamondbacks went 0-for-8.
Pallante did not walk a batter over six innings.
The game took two hours and 30 minutes in front of 22,050 at Busch Stadium.

Looking Ahead

Andre Pallante (9-4, 3.59 ERA) earned the win for the Cardinals as Merrill Kelly (5-7, 5.71) took the loss for the Diamondbacks. Riley O’Brien (19, 4.05) earned the save.

The Cardinals and Diamondbacks continue their series Tuesday, June 23 at 6:45 pm Central at Busch Stadium. Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (6-2, 2.45) takes the mound for the Diamondbacks against right-hander Kyle Leahy (5-4, 4.63) for the Cardinals.