WEST SACRAMENTO -- Call them the Cardiac Cardinals.
With St. Louis down to its final strike in Thursday’s rubber match against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park, the top of the Cards’ order came through to deliver a dramatic 5-4 comeback win.
After rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt was hit on the right leg by a 2-2 pitch with Yohel Pozo on first base and two outs in the ninth inning, catcher Iván Herrera slapped a first-pitch single past A's third baseman Zack Gelof to bring in the tying run. Right fielder Jordan Walker then dropped the first pitch he saw into right field for a double, scoring Wetherholt and giving the Cardinals the lead.
Closer Riley O’Brien earned the save with a scoreless bottom of the ninth, handing St. Louis a huge win and a series victory to wrap up a seven-game road trip.
The tide turned rapidly in a game that looked all but lost for the Cardinals after a seventh-inning bullpen blowup that saw the A’s score three runs to take a 4-3 lead. But St. Louis strung some hits together against A’s closer Jack Perkins in the ninth to stun the home team.
It was the Cardinals’ third win when trailing after eight innings, tied with the Reds for the second most in the Majors. Only the Padres have more with four.
Walker and center fielder Victor Scott II each homered for the Cardinals, backing a strong start from right-hander Michael McGreevy, who tossed six innings of one-run ball, alongside five hits and three strikeouts.