Donovan hits a 3-run homer as the Cardinals hold off the Yankees for a win

NEW YORK (AP) — Brendan Donovan hit a three-run homer, Kyle Gibson pitched seven strong innings and St. Louis Cardinals defeated the New York Yankees 6-5 on Saturday for their first win of the regular season at Yankee Stadium.

It was the first victory for St. Louis in the Bronx since Tim McCarver hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning in Game 5 of the 1964 World Series and Bob Gibson pitched a complete game in a 5-2 victory. The Cardinals improved to 1-7 at Yankee Stadium during the regular season.

St. Louis went ahead to stay within four runs in the third against rookie Will Warren (0-3). Nolan Arenado hit an RBI single to tie the game before Donovan connected for his 11th homer. It was his first three-run home run since July 23, 2023.

“Any day you hit a home run, I think it’s a good day, and to get some people on base and give us a little bit of breathing room, I think that’s good,” Donovan said after tying a record in career homers. . “Someone said it’s the first time we’ve won here in 60 years, which is pretty special for this organization. First time here, it’s a pretty cool place.”

Iván Herrera hit an RBI double in the sixth and scored on a throwing error by Yankees catcher Austin Wells following a wild pitch by Mark Leiter Jr. Herrera tripled and singled in the third, when Paul Goldschmidt was thrown out at the plate.

Gibson (8-6) allowed one run and five hits. After battling his worst outing of the season Monday against San Diego, he picked up his first win since July 7 at Washington.

“Today was just trying to clear my mind a little bit, not looking at the ERA, not looking at the last couple of outings and trying to focus on what I’m trying to do today,” Gibson said.

After Gibson left, the Cardinals struggled with their bullpen.

Matthew Liberatore allowed five hits, including Anthony Volpe’s RBI single. Andrew Kittredge gave up Giancarlo Stanton’s three-run double off the top of the center field fence to make it a one-run game.

“I thought he caught it maybe enough at the end,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Obviously a big change there to get us back in it and give us a chance in the ninth.

Ryan Helsley worked another chance for his 42nd save in 45 chances.

Oswaldo Cabrera singled on a pitch clock violation and Gleyber Torres flied out before Juan Soto doubled with two down. After an intentional walk to Aaron Judge, Helsley spun Wells on a slider for the final out.

Helsley became the first Cardinal to record a save in the Bronx since Ron Taylor pitched the final four innings of Game 4 of the 1964 World Series.

“That’s what the fans came to see right there,” Donovan said of the ninth. “You have two of the best hitters in baseball on base and you had the best closer in baseball on the mound. You’re in Yankee Stadium, it’s the bottom of the ninth, you’ve got a bunch of people screaming. It is tough. I was like this is what people came to see, this is special.”

In his fifth career start, Warren allowed four runs and five hits over four innings. Warren and catcher/infielder Ben Rice were optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre after the game.

INSTRUCTOR’S ROOM

Cardinals: LHP Steven Matz (back), whose 30-day rehab stint has ended, is expected to be added when rosters expand to 28 on Sunday and could start Monday in Milwaukee. … OF Michael Siani (oblique) drew three walks in four plate appearances in a rehab game with Double-A Springfield on Friday. He was scheduled to play there later Saturday and could be activated when the rosters grow.

Yankees: 1B Anthony Rizzo (fractured right forearm) likely will be activated from the injured list Sunday after missing more than two months. … RHP Clarke Schmidt (strained right lat) started a side session and the team will decide by Sunday whether he needs another rehab appearance Monday or can be activated. … RHP Ian Hamilton (right lat strain) was scratched from Friday’s rehab appearance for Somerset because of back spasms.

NEXT

Cardinals RHP Miles Mikolas (8-10, 5.23 ERA) faces New York LHP Nestor Cortes (8-10, 3.89) on Sunday afternoon.

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