Photos: Starter Dustin May gives six innings as Cardinals beat Guardians 5-3
St. Louis Cardinals starter goes six innings as Cardinals scramble to beat the Guardians 5-3.Â
Cardinals starting pitcher Dustin May celebrates after the Guardians' Jose Ramirez hit into a double play to end in the sixth inning of a game Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
Cardinals outfielder Nathan Church scores on a RBI double by Pedro Pages in the second inning of a game against the Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals Nolan Gorman tags out Cleveland Guardians Steven Kwan in the first inning during a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals Pedro Pagés (42) puts down a bunt to advance runners in the sixth inning during a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
The St. Louis Cardinals stand for the national anthem on Jackie Robinson Day before the start of a game against the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium. Players on both teams will wear Robinson’s number 42, honoring Robinson who broke the professional baseball color barrier.
St. Louis Cardinals Jordan Walker (42) throws his bat to the ground after striking out swinging to end the sixth inning during a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals Nathan Church stands on second base after hitting a RBI double in the seventh inning during a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals JJ Wetherholt fields a single by Cleveland Guardian Daniel Schneemann in the seventh inning during a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Dustin May arrives in the dugout before the start of a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis starting pitcher Dustin May goes to work in the first inning of a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Alec Burleson stands on first after hitting a single in the first inning during a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals Alec Burleson advances to second on a sacrifice fly by Cardinals Jordan Walker in the first inning of a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals Ramón UrÃas high-fives teammates after scoring on Nathan Church’s RBI double in the seventh inning during a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals Nolan Gorman grounds out with stranding two runners to end the first inning during a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals Pedro Pages motions to the dugout after hitting a RBI double in the second inning during a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn tags out Cleveland Guardian Daniel Schneemann trying to steal second base to end the second inning during a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals Alec Burleson throws his batting gear to the ground after striking out with bases loaded to end the second inning during a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals Masyn Winn yells after popping to Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio to end the third inning during a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals pitchers Michael McGreevy sits in the dugout during a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals pitchers Dustin May celebrates striking out Cleveland Guardians Daniel Schneeman in the fifth inning during a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (37) congratulates Cardinals Nathan Church after the Cardinals beat the Guardians 5-3 on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals Victor Scott II flies airborne beating a throw to Cleveland Guardian shortstop Brayan Rocchio to steal second base in the fourth inning of a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals pitchers Kyle Leahy and Michael McGreevy sit in the dugout during a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Justin Bruihl on the mound right before Cleveland Guardians Bo Naylor hit a 2RBI double during the seventh inning during a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals Masyn Winn (42) scores on a sacrifice fly by Cardinals JJ Wetherholt (42) to give the Cardinals the lead in the sixth inning during a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Pedro Pagés (43) visits Cardinals pitcher Justin Bruihl on the mound right before Cleveland Guardians Bo Naylor hit a 2RBI double during the seventh inning during a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Pedro Pagés congratulates reliever Riley O'Brien after the Cardinals beat the Guardians 5-3 on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals reliever Riley O'Brien goes to work in the ninth inning during a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals Alec Burleson (42) hits a RBI single in the sixth inning during a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals Nathan Church rounds first on a RBI double in the seventh inning during a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals Alec Burleson strikes out in the eight inning during a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals Jordan Walker hustles past first base after hitting a double in the eighth inning during a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals Jordan Walker motions to the dugout after hitting a double in the eighth inning during a game between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
Laurie Skrivan | Post-Dispatch
Photographer
By the time the Cardinals got their first extra-base hit, they'd already stolen four bases and turned sacrifice hits into a three-run rally to take the series from the Guardians.
Hear what manager Oliver Marmol as well as Dustin May, Alec Burleson and Riley O'Brien had to say about a win in which the team did the little things.
Nathan Church had three hits and was part of the decisive rally that included savvy baserunning and three singles. Dustin May was solid in the 5-3 victory.
The Cardinals catcher belted his first homer of the year and produced his hardest-hit ball of the season Tuesday vs. the Guardians after working through swing changes before his start.
