Big fifth inning sends A's past Cardinals

[June 26, 2019]  Chad Pinder and Marcus Semien hit back-to-back homers as part of a six-run fifth inning, and the visiting Oakland A's beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-3 on Tuesday night.

Matt Olson had a homer and a single for the A's, who opened a six-game road trip.

Oakland starter Chris Bassitt allowed three runs in 3 1/3 innings before being lifted.

Reliever J.B Wendelken (1-1) pitched two-thirds of an inning for the win. Five Oakland relievers combined to throw 5 2/3 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts.

Matt Carpenter had a two-run triple for St. Louis, and Marcell Ozuna had two hits and walked twice.

Cardinals starter Jack Flaherty (4-5) was charged with seven runs on nine hits -- three of them homers -- over 4 2/3 innings.

Olson led off the second with a solo home run to give Oakland an early lead, but the Cardinals answered in the bottom half of the inning.

Yadier Molina led off with a single, and Dexter Fowler walked. With two outs, Carpenter sent a fly ball to deep center. Ramon Laureano misplayed the ball at the wall, and it fell in for a two-run triple. Paul DeJong (two hits) followed with a ground-rule double to make it 3-1.

Cardinals starting pitcher Jack Flaherty (22) pitches during the first inning against the Oakland Athletics at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Oakland's Josh Phegley led off the fifth with a double, and Pinder and Semien followed with back-to-back homers. With one out, Matt Chapman and Olson singled. A two-out single by Stephen Piscotty scored Chapman and ended Flaherty's night. John Brebbia came on, and pinch hitter Khris Davis lined a double to center, scoring Olson and Piscotty.

Earlier on Tuesday, Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak announced that closer Jordan Hicks (torn ulnar collateral ligament) would undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery Wednesday. Carlos Martinez will become the Cardinals' closer.

--Field Level Media

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