Cardinals Drop Second Straight to Tigers in 11-6 Loss

Another rough outing for Dustin May leaves St. Louis in an early hole against Detroit.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 7:53am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The St. Louis Cardinals suffered their second straight loss, falling 11-6 to the Detroit Tigers on Saturday afternoon at Comerica Park. Starter Dustin May struggled mightily, allowing seven runs in just 3.1 innings of work, putting the Cardinals in an early deficit they couldn't overcome despite a late rally.

Why it matters

The Cardinals are now 4-4 on the season and will need to bounce back quickly to avoid falling further behind in the competitive NL Central division race. The team's pitching woes have been a concern early on, with the starting rotation unable to consistently keep the team in games.

The details

May was hit hard from the start, surrendering three runs in the first inning, one in the third, and three more in the fourth before being pulled. The Cardinals' offense did mount a comeback, with Jordan Walker hitting an RBI single in the third and then launching a grand slam in the fifth to trim the deficit to 7-6. However, the Tigers' bats continued to produce, scoring runs off the Cardinals' bullpen in the fifth, seventh, and eighth innings to pull away.

  • The game was played on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan.
  • First pitch was at 1:20 p.m. local time.

The players

Dustin May

The Cardinals' starting pitcher, who struggled mightily, allowing seven runs on seven hits and two walks in 3.1 innings of work.

Jordan Walker

The Cardinals' outfielder, who provided a bright spot with an RBI single and a grand slam to keep his team in the game.

Jack Flaherty

The Tigers' starting pitcher, who gave up six runs in 4.2 innings of work before being lifted.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We just couldn't get Dustin going today. When your starter struggles that much, it puts the whole team in a tough spot.”

— Oliver Marmol, Cardinals Manager

“I was just trying to put a good swing on the ball and help the team claw back into it. But we couldn't quite get over the hump today.”

— Jordan Walker, Cardinals Outfielder

What’s next

The Cardinals will look to salvage the final game of the series on Sunday evening, with Kyle Leahy scheduled to take the mound against the Tigers' Keider Montero.

The takeaway

The Cardinals' early-season struggles continue, as their starting pitching has been unable to consistently keep the team in games. The offense has shown flashes of life, but the team will need to find more consistency on the mound to turn things around and compete in the NL Central.