Cardinals’ Herrera Hits Three Homers in 12-5 Victory over Angels

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Iván Herrera made history on Wednesday, hitting three home runs to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 12-5 victory over the Los Angeles Angels at Busch Stadium. The win, which avoided a sweep in the three-game series, showcased Herrera’s explosive performance in front of a crowd of 20,309.

In a display of power, Herrera hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, a two-run homer in the sixth, and his final three-run shot in the eighth, contributing to a seven-run rally that solidified the Cardinals’ lead. This marked Herrera’s first career multi-home run game, making him the first catcher in Cardinals history to achieve such a feat.

The Angels initially took control of the game, with Mike Trout hitting a home run in the first inning to give them a 1-0 lead. Trout’s homer was his first of the season and the 379th of his career, tying him for 74th place on the all-time list with Tony Pérez and Orlando Cepeda.

After falling behind, the Cardinals responded in the fourth when Herrera took Angels’ starter Yusei Kikuchi‘s first pitch over the left field fence, tying the score at 1-1. St. Louis then took the lead in the sixth inning after Herrera connected again with the bat, driving in two runs following a single by Nolan Arenado.

The game turned dramatically in the seventh, when Logan O’Hoppe of the Angels hit a grand slam off Cardinals starter Sonny Gray, giving Los Angeles a 5-3 lead. However, the Cardinals rallied back in the seventh inning with two runs to level the score.

The decisive eighth inning saw the Cardinals capitalize on patience and strategy, beginning with consecutive bunts by Victor Scott II and Masyn Winn that loaded the bases. Willson Contreras, who had struggled at the plate earlier in the season, hit an RBI double, contributing to the Cardinals’ onslaught, which also included base hits and walks that extended their lead significantly.

Cardinals reliever Jojo Romero (1-1) secured the win after striking out key batters in crucial moments, while Angels reliever Ian Anderson (0-1) took the loss after the bullpen faltered.

"It was a team effort tonight, and we’re really coming together," Herrera said post-game. "I just tried to stay focused at the plate, and you know what, it worked out for us."

Looking ahead, the Cardinals are set to face the Cleveland Guardians, with right-hander José Soriano (1-0, 0.00 ERA) scheduled to start for Los Angeles. The Cardinals, buoyed by their recent success, are aiming to build on this momentum in their next outing.