Cards Win Series with 5-3 Victory

The Cardinal Chronicle
Game Recap — Cardinals Take Series, Beat Guardians 5-3 Behind May, Church
St. Louis, Mo.
By Ray Mileur

The St. Louis Cardinals closed out their series against Cleveland with a 5-3 win Wednesday afternoon at Busch Stadium, securing a series victory and improving to 10-8 on the season.

After dropping the opener, the Cardinals responded with back-to-back wins, including Tuesday’s extra-inning walk-off and a controlled finish in the finale.

 
May Sets the Tone

Right-hander Dustin May (2-2) delivered his second consecutive strong outing, allowing one run on six hits over six innings while striking out four.

It was another step forward for May, who worked efficiently and kept Cleveland’s lineup in check, giving the Cardinals a chance to play from ahead.

 
Church Leads the Way

Nathan Church paced the offense with a 3-for-4 performance, including an RBI double in the seventh inning that extended the Cardinals’ lead to 5-3.

Church also scored the club’s first run in the second inning on a Pedro Pagés single. It marked his second three-hit game of the season, the first coming on Opening Day.

Alec Burleson provided a key swing in the sixth inning, driving in two runs with a single that gave St. Louis the lead.

 
Walker Stays Hot

Jordan Walker continued his early-season surge, extending his hitting streak to 11 games with a double in the eighth inning.

Walker has been a consistent presence in the middle of the lineup, continuing to produce as one of the club’s most reliable bats.

 
Closing It Out

Closer Riley O’Brien finished the job, striking out the first two hitters he faced with a fastball that touched 99 mph before inducing a groundout to second to secure his fifth save.

O’Brien has yet to allow a run this season.

 
Pressure Baseball Shows Up

The Cardinals applied pressure throughout the game, showing an aggressive approach on the bases reminiscent of “Whitey Ball,” taking extra bases and forcing defensive mistakes.

That style helped create opportunities and ultimately made the difference in a close game.

 
Notes

Thomas Saggese was out of the lineup for a second consecutive game against a right-handed starter, with Church getting the start in left field. Saggese, who recently put together a five-game hitting streak, is hitless in his last three games.

The Cardinals also saw a costly lapse on the bases, as Gordon failed to run out a bloop single that could have gone for extra bases—an avoidable mistake in a tight game.

JJ Wetherholt continues to show patience at the plate, working deep counts consistently to begin the season.

 
The Bottom Line

The Cardinals didn’t just win the series.

They responded.

After a slow start to the week, St. Louis found its footing behind improved pitching, timely hitting, and pressure on the bases.

That combination was enough to take control of the series—and build momentum heading into the next stretch.

 
The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports