JUST IN: Cardinals Unleash 11-Run Barrage in Rout of Tigers

The St. Louis Cardinals came out swinging and never let up in an 11-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers, fueled by a relentless offensive attack and strong pitching from ace Sonny Gray.

Game Recap:

The Tigers were silenced quickly in the first, going down in order, while the Cardinals struck early. Lars Nootbaar doubled and later scored on a Brendan Donovan single, giving St. Louis an early 1-0 lead. Detroit went to the bullpen early, bringing in Keider Montero as the “opener” strategy unfolded.

Detroit’s offense continued to sputter through the early innings, with base runners erased on steals and double plays. Meanwhile, the Cardinals began to chip away, tacking on runs in the fourth and fifth innings with help from a wild pitch, well-timed singles, and heads-up baserunning. By the end of the fifth, the Cards were up 5-0.

Things unraveled further for Detroit in the seventh. After a brief weather delay, St. Louis exploded for six more runs. Donovan, Herrera, and Jordan Walker all delivered big hits, including Walker’s two-run double and Pedro Pagés’ towering two-run homer. The Cardinals’ lineup tallied 16 hits in total, with seven different players driving in runs. The top of the order—Nootbaar, Masyn Winn, and Donovan—combined for seven hits and five runs scored.

Detroit finally got on the board in the eighth with a two-run double from Akil Baddoo, but the damage had long been done. In the ninth, they added two more on a sac fly and groundout, bringing the final score to 11-4. Despite the downpour and a lengthy, seemingly unnecessary final inning, the game was played to completion.

Standout Performers:

• Sonny Gray was dominant, striking out 10 over six innings while allowing just three hits and a walk.
• Pedro Pagés launched a two-run homer.
• Jordan Walker added a two-run double.
• Iván Herrera went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs, now batting fifth and showing he may deserve to hit even higher.
• Alec Burleson had a perfect day at the plate, reaching base three times.
• Donovan, Nootbaar, and Winn continued to thrive at the top of the order, combining for a 7-for-13 performance.

Team Notes:

• Cardinals’ run differential now stands at +45.
• They’ve won 8 of their last 10 games and are now just one game behind the Cubs in the NL Central.
• St. Louis is six games over .500 and looking like a legitimate contender.

Looking Ahead:
The Cardinals will face the Tigers again Tuesday night. It’s a tough matchup with Detroit’s ace Tarik Skubal on the mound. He’ll face Erick Fedde, who has performed better on the road but hopes to turn things around at home under the lights. Despite the challenge, the Cardinals will look to ride their momentum to another win.