Cardinals rally late to defeat Tigers 5-3

Herrera's 2-run single sparks 4-run 5th inning for St. Louis

Apr. 6, 2026 at 2:44am

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The St. Louis Cardinals came from behind to defeat the Detroit Tigers 5-3 on Sunday night, salvaging the finale of their 3-game series. Iván Herrera's 2-run single capped a 4-run 5th inning that gave the Cardinals the lead, and they held on for the victory.

Why it matters

The win allows the Cardinals to avoid being swept by the Tigers and keeps them within striking distance in the NL Central division race. For Detroit, the loss is another setback as they try to build momentum in the AL Central.

The details

Cardinals starter Kyle Leahy gave up 2 runs over 5 innings, while Tigers starter Keider Montero allowed 3 runs (2 earned) in 4.1 innings. Nolan Gorman, Victor Scott II and Pedro Pagés each scored and drove in a run for St. Louis. Kerry Carpenter homered for the second straight game to give Detroit an early 2-0 lead, but the Cardinals rallied in the 5th to take the lead for good.

  • The game was played on Sunday, April 6, 2026.
  • Carpenter's home run came in the 3rd inning.

The players

Iván Herrera

Cardinals catcher who hit a 2-run single in the 5th inning to give St. Louis the lead.

Kyle Leahy

Cardinals starting pitcher who earned the win, allowing 2 runs over 5 innings.

Kerry Carpenter

Tigers outfielder who hit a solo home run, his 2nd in as many days.

Keider Montero

Tigers starting pitcher who took the loss, giving up 3 runs (2 earned) in 4.1 innings.

Nolan Gorman

Cardinals infielder who scored a run and drove in another.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had to bounce back after the first two games. The guys really came through in that big 5th inning to get us the win.”

— Oliver Marmol, Cardinals Manager

What’s next

The Cardinals will look to build on this win as they head to Washington to take on the Nationals in a 3-game series starting Monday night. The Tigers will try to get back on track when they visit the Twins for a 4-game set, also beginning on Monday.

The takeaway

This was an important comeback victory for the Cardinals, who showed resilience to rally from an early deficit and avoid being swept by the Tigers. The win keeps St. Louis within striking distance in the NL Central race, while Detroit missed an opportunity to gain ground in the AL Central.