Fermin's tiebreaking hit in 4-run 9th helps Cardinals beat Blue Jays
5-1, avoid series sweep
[August 03, 2026]
By IAN HARRISON
TORONTO (AP) — José Fermin hit a tiebreaking single in
the ninth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Toronto Blue
Jays 5-1 on Sunday, avoiding a three-game sweep.
Matthew Liberatore pitched six shutout innings and George Soriano (4-3)
worked one inning for the win as the Cardinals used a four-run ninth to
snap an eight-game losing streak against Toronto. |
St. Louis Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore works against the Toronto Blue
Jays during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Sunday,
Aug. 2, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP) |
|
St. Louis won for the fifth time in 17 games since the All-Star
break, and scored more than three runs for the first time since
a 7-0 win over Cincinnati on July 25.
Blue Jays closer Louis Varland (3-4) walked Masyn Winn to begin
the ninth. Winn advanced to third on a base hit by Bryan Torres
before scoring on Fermin’s line drive single to center.
Varland hadn’t allowed a run since July 10 at San Diego.
Two outs later, Torres scored on a throwing error by second
baseman Luis Urias. Jordan Walker followed with a two-run
single, chasing Varland.
The four runs off Varland matched the number he allowed in 13
appearances in June.
St. Louis opened the scoring in the third inning when Nathan
Church scored from first on a two-out double by Lars Nootbar.
Alejandro Kirk’s infield single in the second was the only hit
off Liberatore. The left-hander walked one and struck out seven.
The Blue Jays tied it against Soriano in the eighth. Andrés
Giménez reached on a two-out single and stole second before
scoring on Urías’ double.
Blue Jays right-hander Max Scherzer allowed one run and four
hits in six innings. Scherzer walked one and struck out five,
boosting his career total to 3,512.
Up next
Cardinals RHP Michael McGreevy (4-9, 3.57 ERA) is expected to
start at New York on Monday against Yankees RHP Cam Schlittler
(10-6, 2.04).
Blue Jays RHP Shane Bieber (2-2, 5.74 ERA) is scheduled to start
at Houston on Monday against Astros RHP Cristian Javier (1-1,
7.17).
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