Jordan Walker's Milestone Homer Not Enough in Cardinals Loss to Guardians

St. Louis slugger extends early power surge, but team falls to Cleveland 9-3

Apr. 14, 2026 at 3:53am

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A cubist-style painting depicting the silhouettes of baseball players in action, with the ball, bats, and field deconstructed into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in the team colors of the Cardinals and Guardians.A cubist interpretation of the power struggle between the St. Louis Cardinals and Cleveland Guardians, with Jordan Walker's towering home run blast cutting through the fractured field of play.St. Louis Today

Jordan Walker hit his eighth home run of the season on Monday, extending his early power surge for the St. Louis Cardinals. However, the team fell to the Cleveland Guardians 9-3 in the series opener at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals' starter Matthew Liberatore struggled, issuing back-to-back walks in the fourth inning that led to a three-run frame for the Guardians. The loss was the third in a row for the Cardinals, who have been outscored 25-7 during that stretch.

Why it matters

Jordan Walker's impressive start to the season has been a bright spot for the Cardinals, who have struggled as a team in the early going. This game highlights the team's continued pitching woes, as the bullpen also struggled to keep the Guardians in check. The loss drops the Cardinals further behind in the NL Central division race.

The details

Jordan Walker hit his major-league leading eighth home run of the season in the sixth inning, his seventh homer in the last nine games. However, the Cardinals' starter Matthew Liberatore had a tough outing, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks over five innings. The Guardians broke the game open with a three-run fourth inning after Liberatore issued back-to-back walks to start the frame. The Cardinals also struggled at the plate, going just 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

  • On Monday, April 14, 2026, the Cardinals hosted the Guardians at Busch Stadium.
  • Jordan Walker hit his eighth home run of the season in the sixth inning.

The players

Jordan Walker

A rising star slugger for the St. Louis Cardinals who has gotten off to a torrid start to the 2026 season, leading the majors with 8 home runs in the first 16 games.

Matthew Liberatore

The Cardinals' starting pitcher, who struggled in his outing, allowing four runs over five innings while issuing three walks.

Brayan Rocchio

The Guardians' ninth-place hitter, who hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning to extend Cleveland's lead.

Ryan Fernandez

The Cardinals reliever who made his season debut, allowing four hits and one run in 1 2/3 innings of work.

Alec Burleson

The Cardinals outfielder who drove in the team's first run with an RBI single in the opening frame.

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What’s next

The Cardinals and Guardians will continue their three-game series on Tuesday night at Busch Stadium.

The takeaway

Despite Jordan Walker's continued power surge, the Cardinals' pitching struggles and inability to capitalize with runners on base proved costly in this loss. The team will need to find more consistent production from their starting rotation and lineup if they hope to climb back into the NL Central race.