Kenta Maeda clinched his first victory for Detroit, pitching six innings and allowing just four hits in a 4-1 win against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday. With this win, the Tigers secured two out of three games in the series.
Matt Vierling was the standout player for the Tigers, driving in three runs. The Tigers have historically performed well against the Cardinals in interleague play, with a record of 31-16. These two teams have also faced off in three World Series, with the Cardinals winning in 1934 and 2006, and the Tigers emerging victorious in 1968.
“It’s a significant day for me since I grew up rooting for that team,” said Vierling, who hails from St. Louis.
Maeda, who signed a two-year, $24 million contract in the offseason, had a rocky start to the season with a high ERA in his first four starts. However, he has bounced back, allowing just one run over 11 innings in his last two outings.
The 36-year-old pitcher, previously with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Minnesota Twins, struck out five batters and walked none in this game.
Despite a home run by Willson Contreras in the fourth inning, the Cardinals struggled to generate offense, managing only one extra-base hit and two walks.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol acknowledged the team’s offensive struggles but remained optimistic about their potential to turn things around in future games.
Alex Lange secured his second save of the season, stepping in for Jason Foley after Tuesday’s doubleheader. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch praised the bullpen’s depth and flexibility, highlighting the contributions of various pitchers in different roles.
