WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — JJ Wetherholt launched a two-run homer, José Fermín added a two-run double, and the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Oakland Athletics 6-4 on Tuesday night, snapping a two-game losing streak.
The Cardinals improved their major league-best road record to 14-7, and they have yet to lose three consecutive road games this season.
Andre Pallante (4-3) struck out four over five innings, allowing four hits and three runs. Four relievers followed, with Riley O’Brien overcoming a leadoff walk in the ninth to earn his 12th save.
Wetherholt’s sixth-inning shot off Joel Kuhnel put St. Louis ahead 6-3, capping a four-run first inning that set the tone. Jordan Walker drove in the first run with a single, Fermín doubled in two more, and Yohel Pozo singled to score Fermín.
Oakland countered in the second with an RBI single from Nick Kurtz, extending his on-base streak to 35 games—the longest by an Athletics player since Jack Cust reached in 40 straight from Aug. 28, 2008 to April 18, 2009, and the fourth-longest this century for the franchise.
Shea Langeliers added an RBI double in the second and a 448-foot solo homer in the eighth for the A’s. Jeffrey Springs (3-3) surrendered four runs over five innings, while Oakland managed just six hits. Iván Herrera contributed two of St. Louis’s 10 hits, and the Cardinals went 3 for 11 with runners in scoring position.
The series continues Wednesday with Cardinals left-hander Matthew Liberatore (2-1, 4.07 ERA) facing A’s right-hander J.T. Ginn (1-1, 3.62).