Jordan Walker extended his hit streak to 11 games, Nathan Church had three hits and Alec Burleson drove in two runs as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Cleveland Guardians in their series finale 5-3 at Busch Stadium .
In the first inning, Ramírez grounded into a fielder’s choice in his franchise-record 6,040th career at bat to break Nap LaJoie’s 112-year-old record. Ramirez scored the opening run of the game in the inning on a single from Kyle Manzardo. The Cardinals tied the game up in the second inning after Church's first hit of the game. Church stole second and came home on a single by Pedro Pagés to tie the game.
JJ Wetherholt lined a sacrifice fly to center field off Tim Herrin after Connor Brogdon walked Victor Scott II to load the bases in the sixth inning to give St. Louis the lead, and Burleson hit a two-run single up the middle, driving in Church and Scott II, to put St. Louis ahead 4-1.
After Bo Naylor lined a two-run double off Justin Bruihl in the top of the seventh, scoring Rhys Hoskins and Daniel Schneemann, to cut Cleveland’s deficit to 4-3, Church pulled an RBI double down the right-field line in the bottom half of the seventh inning, his third hit of the game driving in Ramón Urías for the final score of the game.
Dustin May earned the win, improving to 2-2, allowing one run on six hits withwalk and had four strikeouts in six innings. Riley O’Brien pitched a perfect ninth to earn his fifth save and help St. Louis win its second straight game. At the plate, Church was 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI to lead the way. Burleson was 2-for-5 with two RBIs.
Kyle Leahy (1-2, 5.14 ERA, 7K's) will start against the Houston Astros who have not named a starter Friday night to open a six-game road trip following a Thursday off day for St Louis. First pitch on Friday will be at 7:10pm with pregame beginning near the start at 7pm on KY 102 (102.5FM).
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