Ranger Suarez stymies Cards, earns first Red Sox win

Suarez scatters 3 hits over 6 scoreless innings as Boston beats St. Louis 7-1

Apr. 12, 2026 at 8:10am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An expressionist painting in vibrant neon colors depicting the pitching motion of Ranger Suarez, with the batter and catcher blurred in the background, capturing the raw energy and intensity of the baseball game.Ranger Suarez's dominant outing on the mound leads the Red Sox to a crucial early-season win over the Cardinals.Boston Today

Ranger Suarez pitched 6 scoreless innings, allowing just 3 hits, to earn his first win with the Boston Red Sox in a 7-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Willson Contreras drove in 3 runs with a double and single, while Jarren Duran and Carlos Narvaez also had multi-hit games for Boston. Jordan Walker hit a solo homer for the Cardinals' lone run.

Why it matters

This was an important early-season win for the Red Sox, who signed Suarez to a big free agent contract in the offseason. The team is looking to bounce back after missing the playoffs last year, and getting a strong outing from their new ace is a good sign. For the Cardinals, the loss snaps a 3-game win streak and raises questions about their starting rotation depth.

The details

Suarez was dominant, retiring 14 of the last 15 batters he faced. The Red Sox jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the 4th on a 2-run double by Contreras, a former Cardinal. Boston broke the game open with a 5-run 9th inning, highlighted by RBI hits from Duran, Contreras, and Caleb Durbin. Walker's solo shot in the 8th accounted for the Cardinals' only run.

  • The game was played on Saturday, April 12, 2026.
  • Suarez earned his first win with the Red Sox in his 3rd start of the season.

The players

Ranger Suarez

The Red Sox's new $130 million free agent signing, who scattered 3 hits over 6 scoreless innings to earn his first win with the team.

Willson Contreras

The Red Sox's new catcher, who went 2-for-4 with a double and 3 RBIs against his former team, the Cardinals.

Jordan Walker

The Cardinals' young slugger, who hit his major league-leading 6th home run in the 8th inning.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Ranger was outstanding tonight. He really set the tone and gave us a great chance to win.”

— Alex Cora, Red Sox Manager

“It's always nice to get a hit against your old team, but the most important thing is we got the win.”

— Willson Contreras

What’s next

The Red Sox and Cardinals will wrap up their 3-game series on Sunday afternoon.

The takeaway

This was a strong bounce-back performance for the Red Sox and their new ace Ranger Suarez, who showed why they invested so heavily in him this offseason. Meanwhile, the Cardinals' offense continues to struggle to support their starting rotation.