José Fermín Found a Gap and the Cardinals Never Looked Back: 4-Run First Inning Sinks A's

West Sacramento got a masterclass in early-inning execution on Tuesday night. The St. Louis Cardinals came out swinging against Athletics starter Jeffrey Springs and never let up, scoring four runs in the opening frame to set the tone for a 6-4 win. It was exactly the kind of statement you want to make on the road, especially after dropping two straight in San Diego over the weekend.

The Perfect Storm of Situational Hitting and Good Fortune

José Fermín was making his first start in nine days, and he came into the at-bat with a plan: find a fastball and pull it left. Springs gave him that fastball on the outer edge of the plate, but Fermín adapted in real time. Instead of yanking it, he lined it to right-center and found the gap, bringing home two runs with a double. "I think I got a little lucky there," Fermín said afterward, "but it was a hit, so that's all that matters."

That double capped off a frame that was less about pure power and more about reading the pitcher. Iván Herrera's 96.6 mph single through the right side was the only truly hard-hit ball of the inning, but it didn't matter. Jordan Walker poked an outside changeup into left-center to score JJ Wetherholt, who'd drawn a leadoff walk. Then, with two outs, Fermín and Pozo delivered the real dagger. Pozo reached for a pitch that was 1.72 feet away from the center of the plate and somehow lifted it off Springs' glove into center field to make it 4-0. "I was like, 'Bro, how did you hit that pitch?'" Fermín said.

Breaking a Drought and Building Momentum

The Cardinals had gone eight games without scoring a first-inning run dating back to May 1. That stretch made Tuesday's explosion even more significant. Manager Oliver Marmol loved what he saw from his role players. "It was good to see a couple guys against a lefty who were in the lineup today in Fermín and Pozo driving them in to give us an early lead," Marmol said. "I love the fact that we came out of the gate strong."

The A's didn't roll over. They scraped together three runs with two outs in the second to make it 4-3. But JJ Wetherholt added crucial insurance in the sixth with a two-run homer to right field, celebrating with his teammates in the visiting dugout by barking like a dog. "We're always looking for someone to hit a homer so we can bark," Fermín said. "That was fun. Got the vibes up again."

St. Louis is now 6-4 in May and sitting with a 14-7 road record overall, the second best in the Majors behind the Braves. After two losses in San Diego, this victory matters. "The guys are really prepared," Marmol said. "It doesn't matter if they're home or away. They're focused on how to take care of business and what's in front of them that day."

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.