Cardinals Rally to Take Series Win Over Cleveland

Dustin May's strong start and late-inning offense lift St. Louis to victory

Apr. 16, 2026 at 3:21am

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An abstract, expressionist painting in vibrant neon colors, with dynamic brushstrokes capturing the energy and intensity of a baseball game, players' forms dissolving into unrecognizable shapes.The Cardinals' late-inning comeback showcases the team's offensive firepower and resilience as they look to stay in the NL Central race.Houston Today

The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Cleveland Guardians 5-3 on Wednesday, rallying late to take the series. Starter Dustin May pitched six solid innings, and the Cardinals offense broke a tie game in the sixth inning with a sacrifice fly and a two-run single. The Guardians got two runs back in the seventh, but the Cardinals added an insurance run in the eighth to secure the win.

Why it matters

The Cardinals' comeback victory keeps them above .500 on the young season and gives them momentum heading into a weekend series against the Houston Astros, one of the top teams in the American League.

The details

Dustin May gave up an early RBI single to the Guardians' Kyle Manzardo in the first inning, but settled in to finish with six innings and four strikeouts. The Cardinals tied the game in the second on an RBI hit from Pedro Pagés. St. Louis took the lead for good in the sixth on a sacrifice fly from JJ Wetherholt and a two-run single by Alec Burleson. Cleveland got two runs back in the seventh, but the Cardinals added an insurance run in the eighth on an RBI double by Nathan Church.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, April 16, 2026 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
  • The Cardinals will have an off day on Thursday before traveling to Houston to face the Astros in a three-game series starting on Friday.

The players

Dustin May

The Cardinals' starting pitcher, who gave up one run over six strong innings.

Kyle Manzardo

The Guardians' first baseman, who drove in the team's first run with an RBI single in the first inning.

Pedro Pagés

The Cardinals' outfielder, who tied the game with an RBI hit in the second inning.

JJ Wetherholt

The Cardinals' third baseman, who gave his team the lead with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.

Alec Burleson

The Cardinals' outfielder, who delivered a two-run single in the sixth inning to extend the lead.

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What they’re saying

“Dustin May really settled in after that first inning and gave us a great chance to win. The offense came through in a big way late to get us this series victory.”

— Oliver Marmol, Cardinals Manager

What’s next

The Cardinals will have an off day on Thursday before traveling to Houston to face the Astros in a three-game series starting on Friday.

The takeaway

The Cardinals' comeback win over the Guardians showcases the team's resilience and offensive firepower, which will be crucial as they look to keep pace in the competitive NL Central division race.