Church homers to help lift Cardinals past Marlins 5-3
[April 22, 2026]
MIAMI (AP) — Nathan Church hit a two-run homer and Alec Burleson had two
RBIs to back a strong start by Dustin May and the St. Louis Cardinals
beat the Miami Marlins 5-3 on Tuesday night.
May (3-2) allowed a leadoff home run to Jakob Marsee — his first of the
season — but then settled down. He left with one on and one out in the
sixth, allowing a run and six hits. Justin Bruihl followed with 1 1/3
scoreless innings. |
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Dustin May pitches during the first
inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Tuesday, April 21,
2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) |
|
Ryne Stanek walked three to load the bases with two outs in the
eighth and left after a two-run single by Heriberto Hernández
cut St. Louis' lead to 5-3. George Soriano struck out Connor
Norby to end the rally.
Riley O’Brien pitched a scoreless ninth for his seventh save in
eight opportunities. He hasn’t allowed an earned run in his
first 13 1/3 innings.
Burleson drove in the Cardinals' first two runs off Chris
Paddack (0-4) with a first-inning single and a fielder's choice
grounder in the third. Church hit his second homer following
Masyn Winn’s leadoff single in the fourth to put St. Louis up
4-1.
Burleson doubled in the fifth and scored on a two-out single by
Nolan Gorman for the Cardinals' final run.
Winn, who went 2 for 4 and scored a run for the Cardinals, has
multiple hits in three straight games during an eight-game
hitting streak.
JJ Wetherholt led off the game with a double and scored two
runs. Jordan Walker went 0 for 4 to end a 15-game hitting
streak.
Paddack allowed five runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings, but
struck out seven. John King got the final out, then pitched a
scoreless sixth.
Marsee went 3 for 4 to raise his average to .176.
Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza of the
national champion Indiana Hoosiers threw out the ceremonial
first pitch.
Up next
Cardinals RHP Kyle Leahy (2-2, 5.21) starts Wednesday's rubber
game opposite Marlins RHP Janson Junk (0-2, 4.50).
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights
reserved |
|
|
