Cardinals' big fifth inning denies Tigers series sweep

Ivan Herrera's two-run single capped a four-run rally that lifted St. Louis to a 5-3 win over Detroit.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 8:35am

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The visiting St. Louis Cardinals scored four runs in the fifth inning to rally past the Detroit Tigers 5-3 on Sunday and avoid a series sweep. Ivan Herrera's two-run single capped the big inning for the Cardinals, who salvaged the finale of the three-game set. Kerry Carpenter hit a two-run homer for the Tigers, while Spencer Torkelson reached base four times.

Why it matters

The Cardinals' comeback win prevented the Tigers from completing a series sweep at home, an important result as both teams look to contend in their respective divisions this season. Detroit had a chance to build momentum with a series victory, while St. Louis was able to rebound and maintain its position in the standings.

The details

St. Louis starter Kyle Leahy gave up two runs and five hits in five innings to earn the win. The Cardinals trailed 2-0 before erupting for four runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by Herrera's go-ahead two-run single. Detroit cut the deficit to 4-3 in the sixth but the Cardinals added an insurance run in the eighth to seal the victory.

  • The game was played on Sunday, April 6, 2026.
  • The Tigers had placed Justin Verlander on the 15-day injured list due to left hip inflammation prior to the game.

The players

Ivan Herrera

The Cardinals' catcher delivered the go-ahead two-run single in the fifth inning to give St. Louis the lead.

Kerry Carpenter

The Tigers' outfielder hit a two-run home run in the third inning to give Detroit an early 2-0 lead.

Spencer Torkelson

The Tigers' first baseman reached base four times in the game.

Kyle Leahy

The Cardinals' starting pitcher earned the win, allowing two runs and five hits in five innings.

Keider Montero

The Tigers' starting pitcher took the loss, giving up three runs (two earned) in 4 1/3 innings.

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What they’re saying

“We must capitalize on opportunities like that if we want to compete in this division. The guys did a great job of battling back and putting together that big inning.”

— Oliver Marmol, Cardinals Manager

“It's frustrating to let that lead slip away, but we'll learn from this and come back stronger. Our guys are playing hard and I'm proud of the effort, even in defeat.”

— A.J. Hinch, Tigers Manager

What’s next

The Cardinals will look to build on this comeback win as they continue their road trip, while the Tigers will try to rebound in their next series as they aim to stay in the hunt in the AL Central.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the importance of timely hitting and resilience in the long MLB season. The Cardinals showed their ability to rally from a deficit, while the Tigers were left ruing missed opportunities to secure a series sweep at home.