Cardinals set tone with 4-run 1st inning in win over A's

WEST SACRAMENTO -- For their Star Wars Night celebration on Tuesday at Sutter Health Park, the Athletics chose to depict Cardinals batters as Stormtroopers on the right-center-field scoreboard.

But it didn’t take long for St. Louis’ hitters to prove a lot more accurate than the Dark Side’s famously poor-shooting fighting force.

The Cardinals managed to find every conceivable hole in the A’s defense in a four-run first inning, a frame that set the tone in Tuesday’s 6-4 win. And they did it without much loud contact: Only one batted ball in the inning, Iván Herrera’s single through the right side to put runners on the corners with nobody out, registered as hard hit (95+ mph).

Jordan Walker followed with a bloop single into center field, José Fermín found a gap for a two-run double, and Yohel Pozo’s third hit of the season deflected off pitcher Jeffrey Springs’ glove and into the outfield for an RBI single.

It was the first time the Cards had scored in the first inning since May 1 against the Dodgers, and it was their highest-scoring opening frame since a nine-run outburst on July 13, 2024, against the Cubs at Busch Stadium.

The A’s cut the lead to 4-3 in the second inning against starter Andre Pallante, but St. Louis got some much-needed insurance by way of a two-run homer in the sixth inning from rookie JJ Wetherholt and never lost the lead.

After allowing the game-tying two-run homer against the Padres on Sunday in an eventual 3-2, 10-inning loss, closer Riley O’Brien picked up the save on Tuesday with a scoreless ninth inning.