By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Jordan Walker delivered a clutch hit in the seventh inning, and then again in the eighth, as the St. Louis Cardinals claimed the series from the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 6-5 win at Busch Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
St. Louis opened the scoring and took the lead in the bottom of the first when Iván Herrera singled home Masyn Winn. But in the top of the fifth inning, former Cardinal Randal Grichuk tied up the game with a leadoff solo home run for the Diamondbacks. The home run was the lone run starter Matthew Liberatore gave up for St. Louis, before being pulled in the eighth inning.
The Cardinals had set up Liberatore for a win, scoring three runs in the bottom half of the seventh inning. Alec Burleson singled and Nolan Arenado walked before Walker hit a double to the center field wall plating both runs for the St. Louis lead. Walker came around to score on back to back ground outs by Victor Scott II and Yohel Pozo.
FIRE US UP, JORDAN WALKER!! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/u9Qxl3wgKK
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) May 24, 2025
Liberatore though ended up with a no decision, after Arizona scored four runs in the top of the eighth off relievers Kyle Leahy and Steven Matz to take their first lead of the game. Ketel Marte doubled to lead off the inning and Geraldo Perdomo singled before Marte scored on a sacrifice fly by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Eugenio Suárez singled off Leahy, who would be replaced by Matz, putting runners on the corners and Josh Naylor promptly cleared the bases off Matz with a triple, tying up the game. A double by Grichuk with two outs drove in Naylor to give the Diamondbacks a 5-4 lead.
Trailing entering the bottom half of the eighth, it was Walker again that came up clutch for the Cardinals. Herrera walked to open the inning and Burleson doubled, putting both in scoring position. Arenado grounded out, driving in Herrera, before Walker singled into center field to drive in Burleson for the go ahead run. Ryan Helsley closed out the game, and earned the win.
Jordan Walker comes up clutch again!! pic.twitter.com/JJVfsDZwxR
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) May 24, 2025
Despite Matz being the pitcher on record when the Cardinals took the lead back, Helsley was the pitcher credited with the win due to rule 9.17 c of the MLB rule book which states:
(c) The Official Scorer shall not credit as the winning pitcher a relief pitcher who is ineffective in a brief appearance, when at least one succeeding relief pitcher pitches effectively in helping his team maintain its lead. In such a case, the Official Scorer shall credit as the winning pitcher the succeeding relief pitcher who was most effective, in the judgment of the Official Scorer.
With the win, Helsley improves now to 2-0 on the season, giving up one hit and walking one in his one inning while striking out two. At the plate, Walker (2-3, 3 RBIs, 1 run) and Burleson (2-4, 2 runs) led the way hitting in the win.
St. Louis and Arizona wrap up their series tomorrow as St. Louis looks for the sweep. Sonny Gray (5-1, 4.02 ERA) takes the mound for the Cardinals against Brandon Pfaadt (7-3, 3.81 ERA) for the Diamondbacks. First pitch is at 1:15 pm with pregame being joined at 1:05 on KY 102 (102.5 FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.
