Six-Run Diamondbacks Fourth Sinks Cardinals

Members of the Diamondbacks celebrating a win over the Cardinals

Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images

June 24, 2026

Diamondbacks 9, Cardinals 4

The St. Louis Cardinals could not recover from a six-run fourth inning Wednesday night at Busch Stadium, falling 9-4 to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Matthew Liberatore surrendered all six runs in that frame and took the loss. José Fermín and Blaze Jordan provided most of the offense for the Cardinals, but the early deficit proved too much. Ryan Thompson earned the win in relief for the Diamondbacks.

Cardinals Strike First

The Cardinals jumped ahead in the bottom of the second. With two outs, Jordan doubled to left to score Fermín and put the Cardinals up 1-0. The lead held until the fourth, when the game turned for good.

The Fourth Unravels

Liberatore could not escape the fourth. Tommy Troy singled home Corbin Carroll to tie the game, and Ildemaro Vargas followed with a two-run double that scored Nolan Arenado and Troy for a 3-1 lead.

Back in the fourth, Gabriel Moreno‘s sacrifice fly extended the lead before LuJames Groover crushed a two-run homer to left and Ketel Marte added a solo shot to left-center. By the time the inning ended, the Diamondbacks led 6-1. Liberatore was charged with six earned runs on eight hits across 5 1/3 innings, allowing two home runs.

Diamondbacks Pull Away

The Diamondbacks kept the pressure on against the Cardinals’ relievers. They added two runs in the seventh and another in the eighth to build a 9-2 lead. Gordon Graceffo allowed two runs across 1 2/3 innings, and Justin Bruihl gave up an unearned run over two innings. The Cardinals’ lone error, charged to Jordan, helped extend the deficit.

Cardinals Show Late Life

The Cardinals refused to go quietly. Fermín led off the ninth with a solo home run to left, his third of the season, to make it 9-3. Lars Nootbaar followed with a triple, and the Cardinals pushed across another run before the rally ended. Jordan finished with three RBI, and Fermín reached base three times while scoring three runs.

What Went Right for the Cardinals

Fermín’s Big Night

Fermín went 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk, a stolen base, and three runs scored. He was the most dynamic player in the Cardinals lineup from start to finish.

Jordan Drives In Three

Jordan doubled, added a sacrifice fly, and finished with three RBI. He accounted for the bulk of the Cardinals’ run production on a difficult night.

A Ninth-Inning Pulse

Down seven runs, the Cardinals scored twice in the ninth on Fermín’s homer and a Nootbaar triple. The late rally showed some fight in an otherwise lopsided loss.

What Went Right for the Diamondbacks

A Six-Run Fourth

The Diamondbacks sent ten men to the plate in the fourth and scored six times. Groover’s two-run homer and Marte’s solo shot were the biggest blows in the decisive inning.

Balanced Production

Troy, Vargas, and Groover each drove in two runs, and Marte, Gurriel, and Moreno added one apiece. The Diamondbacks collected 12 hits and went 5-for-16 with runners in scoring position.

What Went Wrong for the Cardinals

Liberatore’s Fourth Inning

Liberatore retired the first nine hitters he faced but fell apart in the fourth, when the Diamondbacks sent him to a six-run hole. He could not contain the damage, and two home runs sealed his rough night.

Quiet Until It Was Too Late

The Cardinals managed eight hits but went 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position and stranded six. Most of their offense came after they trailed by seven.

What Went Wrong for the Diamondbacks

Stranded Opportunities

Even in a comfortable win, the Diamondbacks left nine runners on base and went 5-for-16 with runners in scoring position. They had chances to break the game open even sooner than they did.

Quick Hits

The Cardinals fell to 42-36 with the loss, while the Diamondbacks improved to 41-39.
All six runs in the fourth were charged to Liberatore.
Fermín homered, walked, stole a base, and scored three times.
The Cardinals went 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position; the Diamondbacks went 5-for-16.

Looking Ahead

Ryan Thompson (3-1, 2.86 ERA) earned the win for the Diamondbacks as Matthew Liberatore (3-5, 5.56) took the loss for the Cardinals.

The Cardinals and Diamondbacks close their series Thursday, June 25 at 6:45 pm Central at Busch Stadium. The Diamondbacks Zac Gallen (3-6, 6.10) will take the mound against the Cardinals Michael McGreevy (3-6, 3.35).