Tommy Pham hit a pinch-hit grand slam in his first game back with the Cardinals, and St. Louis defeated the Texas Rangers 8-1 on Tuesday night.
Pham’s home run off reliever Cody Bradford completed a five-run fifth inning. It was his first at-bat since joining the Cardinals from the White Sox in a three-team trade on Monday. Pham started his career with the Cardinals, who drafted him in the sixth round in 2006.
“Definitely my best moment here,” Pham said. “One of the top moments of my career.”
Pham’s second career grand slam, and his first since May 6, 2019, helped Lance Lynn get the win. Lynn gave up one run on three hits in five innings, striking out three and walking one. The Cardinals won for the second time in their last three games.
“I’ve known Tommy since Low-A,” said Lynn, who is also back with the Cardinals. “So, we’ve known each other since we were 20, 21 years old. So, for both of us to still be playing, to be back here where we started our career and to have success and do all that. Hopefully, we can keep things rolling.”
Max Scherzer pitched just four innings, allowing three runs on four hits. He struck out five and walked one.
It’s the third time in his last four starts that Scherzer (2-4) didn’t pitch beyond the fourth inning.
“With Max, you know, his arm just fatigued there,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “We were hoping to get him around 80-85 pitches, but he could feel it in the triceps area so that was far enough.”
The Rangers lost for the fourth time in their last five games.
Masyn Winn homered on Scherzer’s first pitch of the game, sending it into the left field bullpen. It was Winn’s second career leadoff homer. The last Cardinal to hit a home run on the first pitch of the game was Brendan Donovan against Toronto on April 2, 2023.
“Especially against someone like Scherzer, who’s got a really good arm, and the energy that that brings when you’re able to do that on pitch one, it’s pretty cool,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said.
