Red Sox Surge Past Cardinals Despite Jordan Walker's Homer

Six consecutive hits off Matt Svanson in the ninth inning led to a five-run inning that gave the Red Sox the win at Busch Stadium.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 9:55am

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A cubist, fragmented painting depicting the dynamic action of a baseball game, with players and the field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of color.A fractured, geometric illustration captures the tension and energy of a high-stakes baseball game between the Red Sox and Cardinals.St. Louis Today

Jordan Walker's eighth-inning homer cut the Red Sox's lead to 2-1, but six consecutive hits off Matt Svanson in the ninth led to a five-run inning that blew the game open and gave the Red Sox the win over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

Why it matters

The loss is a setback for the Cardinals, who have relied on late-game comebacks to stay competitive so far this season. The Red Sox's offensive surge in the ninth inning exposed the Cardinals' bullpen struggles, an area the team will need to address to remain in contention.

The details

Walker's homer in the eighth inning was his sixth of the year and fifth in the last week, but the Cardinals were held to just three hits through the first six innings by Ranger Suarez. In the ninth, Svanson issued a leadoff walk and then gave up six consecutive hits, including an RBI single from former Cardinal Willson Contreras, who drove in three runs on the night.

  • Jordan Walker hit his sixth homer of the season in the eighth inning.
  • The Red Sox scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning.

The players

Jordan Walker

A young Cardinals outfielder who hit a home run in the eighth inning to cut the Red Sox's lead to 2-1.

Matt Svanson

The Cardinals relief pitcher who gave up six consecutive hits in the ninth inning, leading to a five-run inning for the Red Sox.

Willson Contreras

The former Cardinals player who drove in three runs for the Red Sox, including an RBI single in the ninth inning.

Ranger Suarez

The Red Sox starting pitcher who held the Cardinals to just three hits through the first six innings.

Kyle Leahy

The Cardinals starting pitcher who was chased in the fourth inning after giving up a double to Willson Contreras.

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What’s next

The Cardinals will look to bounce back in the series finale on Sunday, with Andre Pallante scheduled to start on the mound.

The takeaway

The Cardinals' late-game comeback efforts were thwarted by the Red Sox's offensive surge in the ninth inning, exposing the team's bullpen struggles as an area that will need to be addressed if they want to remain competitive in the NL Central race.