Iván Herrera delivered a standout performance with three home runs, including a decisive shot in a seven-run eighth inning, as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Los Angeles Angels 12–5 on Wednesday at Busch Stadium.
The 23-year-old catcher, who entered the game without a home run this season, launched solo and two-run shots off Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi before adding a third off reliever Brock Burke in the eighth inning. The final homer gave Herrera his first career multi-homer game and marked the first time a catcher in Cardinals history has hit three home runs in a single contest.
Trailing 5–4 heading into the bottom of the seventh, St. Louis tied the game when Lars Nootbaar scored on an error by shortstop Nicky Lopez following a Willson Contreras RBI double. The Cardinals seized control in the eighth after loading the bases against Ian Anderson, who surrendered three consecutive hits to open the frame. Burke entered and walked Contreras with the bases loaded, giving St. Louis the lead. Herrera’s third home run punctuated the rally and secured the victory.
JoJo Romero (1–1) earned the win for the Cardinals by recording the final four outs. Sonny Gray, who started for St. Louis, allowed five runs on five hits while striking out nine over six-plus innings. The right-hander was tagged in the seventh when Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe hit a grand slam to put Los Angeles ahead briefly. It was O’Hoppe’s second homer of the season and his second career grand slam.
Kikuchi struggled with command in his outing for the Angels, issuing five walks, four hits, and three runs over five innings. Despite six strikeouts, he failed to protect a 1–0 lead given by Mike Trout’s solo home run in the top of the first inning. It was Trout’s first long ball of the season and added to his growing tally as the three-time MVP continues to work back from previous injuries.
The Cardinals’ offensive burst overshadowed the Angels’ attempt to steal a win on the road. Victor Scott II and Masyn Winn set the table effectively, with both reaching base on bunt singles to help spark the game-deciding eighth. Jordan Walker also contributed a key leadoff single in that inning.
The Angels dropped to 6–7 with the loss and will return home for their series opener against the Cleveland Guardians. Right-hander José Soriano (1–0, 0.00 ERA) is scheduled to start for Los Angeles, while Cleveland will send Gavin Williams (0–0, 3.60 ERA) to the mound.
The Cardinals, improving to 7–6 on the season, will begin a road trip with a weekend series in Boston. Right-hander Erick Fedde (1–0, 1.50 ERA) is set to take the ball for St. Louis against the Red Sox’s Walker Buehler (0–1, 8.31 ERA). Early betting odds have the Cardinals slightly favored at -120, with the over/under set at 9.5 runs.
