The St. Louis Cardinals wasted no time shaking off the sting of Sunday's tough loss, jumping out to a commanding start and never looking back in a 6-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento.
After a grueling stretch of 16 games in 17 days, the Cardinals enjoyed a well-deserved day off Monday. But they came out swinging Tuesday, scoring four runs in the first inning to set the tone. Rookie sensation JJ Wetherholt added an exclamation point in the sixth inning with his eighth home run of the season, a two-run blast that gave the Cardinals breathing room.
The first inning was a masterclass in clutch hitting. Jordan Walker, Jose Fermin, and Yohel Pozo each delivered RBI hits as the Cardinals sent eight batters to the plate. Fermin's big double into the right-center gap plated two runs, and Pozo—who hadn't recorded a hit since April 14—punched a two-strike changeup back up the middle to complete the four-run frame.
"I've been sitting a lot of days, and when I go up there, I'm just trying to compete and put the ball in play," Pozo said. "I come to the ballpark every day like I'm going to play and prepare myself. I've continued to work since last year, and I'm going to keep doing it."
Three of the four first-inning runs came with two outs, pushing the Cardinals' league-leading total to 81 two-out runs this season—a testament to their relentless approach at the plate.
"We have to do that," said manager Oliver Marmol, whose team spread 10 hits across eight different players. "We've talked about it from the beginning—taking tough at-bats regardless of what's going on. We just want to be relentless with how we approach every at-bat."
For Cardinals fans, Tuesday's win was a reminder of the depth and resilience this young team brings. Whether it's a rookie like Wetherholt finding his power stroke or a role player like Pozo stepping up when called upon, this squad is built to compete. And if you're looking to gear up like your favorite Cardinals, now's the perfect time to stock up on fresh St. Louis apparel.