Cardinals secure series win with comeback 9-6 win over Guardians

By MATT PIKE

The St. Louis Cardinals secured a series win on the road on Saturday afternoon, coming from behind after a big fourth inning from the Guardians, and beating Cleveland 9-6 at Progressive Field for the Redbirds largest comeback win of the season. 

After Brendan Donovan led off the game with a solo home run for the Cardinals, St. Louis held the 1-0 lead until the fourth inning, when the Guardians scored six runs, first tying up the game with a solo home run of their own as Kyle Manzardo led off the inning with a blast to center field to knot up the game. 

Continuing in the fourth inning, Cleveland took the lead on a groundout by Daniel Schneemann, scoring Carlos Santana who walked earlier in the inning.  A Nolan Jones double extended the lead, driving in Lane Thomas who had also doubled in the inning, and after Jones stole third base he scored himself on a two run home run by Gabriel Arias.  After Austin Hedges singled following the home run, a triple by Steven Kwan drove in Hedges for the final run of the inning, giving the Guardians a 6-1 lead. 

In the fifth inning the Cardinals cut the Cleveland lead in half, scoring two runs on a single by Alec Burleson, driving in Donovan and Masyn Winn.  Then in the sixth, St. Louis took the lead for good with a five run frame, first scoring with a single by Nolan Gorman bringing home Lars Nootbaar and later in the inning tying the game on a Victor Scott II double, driving in Nolan Arenado and Gorman. 

A sacrifice fly by Donovan gave the Cardinals the lead, driving in Yohel Pozo before a groundout by Winn extended the lead more bringing in Scott to give St. Louis an 8-6 lead.  The final run scored in the ninth inning for the Cardinals on a solo home run by Willson Contreras, his 11th home run of the season. 

Matt Svanson took the win in relief for the Cardinals, his first win of the season going to 1-0, pitching one inning and striking out one.  Ryan Helsley earned his 16th save, striking out one in the ninth.  At the plate, Winn was 3-for-5 with an RBI.  Contreras was 2-for-4 with the home run and a walk while Gorman was 2-for-5 with an RBI.  

St. Louis will look for the sweep as they wrap up their series in Cleveland tomorrow.  Matthew Liberatore (5-6, 3.96 ERA) takes the mound for the Cardinals against Logan Allen (5-5, 4.25 ERA) for the Guardians.  First pitch is at 12:40pm and will be joined near the start at 12:30 on KY 102 (102.5 FM).

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.