Cardinals Even Series with Guardians in High-Scoring Affair

Michael McGreevy survives shaky start as St. Louis bats come alive against Cleveland's Joey Cantillo

Apr. 14, 2026 at 1:46pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the baseball game between the Guardians and Cardinals, with sharp, overlapping planes of vibrant colors representing the players, stadium, and action on the field.The Cardinals' high-powered offense overcame the Guardians' early lead in a wild, back-and-forth series-evening victory.St. Louis Today

The St. Louis Cardinals evened their series with the Cleveland Guardians, winning a high-scoring affair 9-7 at Busch Stadium. Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy struggled early but settled in, while Guardians lefty Joey Cantillo was plagued by command issues and the gusty winds blowing out to left field.

Why it matters

This game featured two teams with potent offenses looking to gain an edge in the early part of the season. The Cardinals' win evens the series and keeps them within striking distance of the division-leading Guardians in the NL Central race.

The details

McGreevy surrendered four runs in the first three innings, but the Cardinals' bats came alive against the wild Cantillo. St. Louis tagged the Guardians starter for six runs, taking advantage of his 4 walks and 45% fly ball rate on a windy night in St. Louis. The Cardinals' bullpen was able to hold on, despite Cleveland's late rally, to even the series at a game apiece.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
  • First pitch was at 7:45 p.m. ET.

The players

Michael McGreevy

The Cardinals' starting pitcher, who earned the win despite an early struggle, going 5 innings and allowing 4 runs.

Joey Cantillo

The Guardians' starting pitcher, who took the loss after surrendering 6 runs in 4.2 innings due to command issues and the windy conditions.

St. Louis Cardinals

The home team, who evened the series with the Guardians with the high-scoring victory.

Cleveland Guardians

The visiting team, who saw their offense come alive late but ultimately fell short in the series-evening loss.

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What they’re saying

“We just couldn't get the ball down tonight. The wind was swirling and Joey struggled to command his stuff. Tip your cap to the Cardinals, they took advantage of the conditions.”

— Terry Francona, Guardians Manager

“It wasn't pretty early, but we found a way to grind it out. The offense picked me up and we were able to even this series up. That's a good team over there, so this was an important win for us.”

— Michael McGreevy, Cardinals Pitcher

What’s next

The two teams will meet again on Wednesday night, with the Guardians looking to regain the series lead.

The takeaway

This high-scoring affair highlighted the offensive firepower of both the Cardinals and Guardians, as well as the impact weather can have on a game. The Cardinals' ability to capitalize on Cantillo's command issues proved to be the difference, evening the series and setting up an intriguing rubber match.