Full Breakdown
Cardinals Defeat Athletics 6-4 in Sacramento, Extending Road Success
5/13/2026, 12:50:14 PM
Game Overview
The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Oakland Athletics 6-4 at Sutter Health Park. Four runs in the first inning came after a walk to JJ Wetherholt, a single by Ivan Herrera and a two-out double by José Fermín that drove in Jordan Walker and Herrera. Wetherholt’s two-run homer in the sixth extended the lead to 6-3. Oakland answered with a 448-foot solo homer by Shea Langeliers in the eighth, but Riley O’Brien closed the ninth for the save.
Series Context
The win ended a two-game skid and lifted the Cardinals’ road record to 14-7, third in the NL Central, 3.5 games behind the Cubs. Oakland entered leading the AL West by two games.
Key Performers
JJ Wetherholt hit a two-run homer and went 2-for-4. José Fermín added a double and two RBIs. Nick Kurtz’s RBI single extended his on-base streak to 35 games, the longest for an A’s player since 2008. Shea Langeliers recorded his 100th career homer. Starting pitchers Andre Pallante and Jeffrey Springs each threw five innings; Pallante struck out four, Springs five. Reliever Riley O’Brien earned the save.
Statistical Snapshot
- Cardinals: 6 runs, 10 hits, 0 errors.
- Athletics: 4 runs, 6 hits, 0 errors.
- Pallante: 5 IP, 3 earned runs (some reports list 4), 4 K, 3 BB.
- Springs: 5 IP, 4 runs, 5 K, 3 BB.
- O’Brien: 1 IP, 1 save.
Official Team Statements
Team releases noted the win ended a two-game losing streak and raised the Cardinals’ road winning percentage to a season high. The club also announced Matthew Liberatore will start Wednesday against J.T. Ginn.
Criticism and Opposition
The Athletics managed only six hits and saw pitcher Jeffrey Springs extend a five-start winless streak, having allowed 19 runs in his last 24.1 innings. Jacob Wilson was sidelined with a left-shoulder subluxation.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on Pallante’s line: VivaElBirdos lists four hits and three earned runs, while Athletics Nation records seven hits and four earned runs. No player quotes were provided.
Verbatim Quotes
- “JJ Wetherholt hit a two-run homer, José Fermín drove in two with a double and the St.” — Associated Press
- “The Cardinals snapped a two-game skid and improved their major league-best road record to 14-7.” — Associated Press
- “Springs (3-3) allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out five over five innings to take the loss Tuesday versus the Cardinals.” — CBS Sports
- “Shea Langeliers opened the eighth inning with a monster homer, the 100th of his career to tighten the score to 6-4.” — Athletics Nation
Looking Ahead
The series continues Wednesday with Matthew Liberatore (2-1, 4.07 ERA) slated to start for St. Louis, while Oakland will counter with J.T. Ginn (1-1, 3.62 ERA). The matchup will determine whether the Cardinals can extend their road surge and whether the Athletics can reclaim the AL West lead.
