Cardinals rally from 5-run deficit to defeat Guardians 9-6

CLEVELAND (AP) — Victor Scott II had two hits and two RBIs as the St. Louis Cardinals rallied for a 9-6 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday.

Masyn Winn added three hits for St. Louis, and Brendan Donovan and Willson Contreras both homered. Donovan and Alec Burleson each drove in two runs.

Kyle Manzardo and Gabriel Arias went deep for the Guardians (40-41), who have lost three straight and dropped under .500 for the first time since April 9. Cleveland snapped a 21-inning scoreless drought with six runs in the third to take a 6-1 lead before St. Louis came back.

Burleson had a two-run single in the fifth, and Scott tied it with a two-run double during a five-run sixth. Yohel Pozo scored the go-ahead run on Donovan's sacrifice fly, and Scott came home on an RBI groundout by Winn.

Contreras added a solo homer in the ninth.

Matt Svanson (1-0) got the win and Ryan Helsley earned his 16th save.

Matt Festa (1-2) took the loss.

In the third, the Guardians got a solo shot from Manzardo and a two-run drive by Arias off starter Miles Mikolas. Their other runs came on an RBI double by Lane Thomas, an RBI triple by Steven Kwan and a run-scoring grounder by Daniel Schneeman.

Donovan lined a fastball over the wall in right-center on Slade Cecconi's first pitch. It was the sixth time this season a Guardians starter allowed a home run on the opening pitch of the game — most in the majors. Cleveland gave up six such homers from 2017-24.

It was the first time since July 5 last year against Washington that the Cardinals trailed by five and rallied to win. The last time Cleveland led by at least five and lost was on May 19, 2023, against the New York Mets.

The series finale is a matchup of left-handers. Matthew Liberatore (5-6, 3.96 ERA) pitches for St. Louis, and Logan Allen (5-5, 4.25) takes the mound for Cleveland.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas reacts after giving up a two-run home run to Cleveland Guardians' Gabriel Arias during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

St. Louis Cardinals' St. Louis Cardinals' Yohel Pozo catches a pop foul by Cleveland Guardians' Austin Hedges during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas steps off the mound after giving up a solo home run to Cleveland Guardians' Kyle Manzardo, rear, during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

St. Louis Cardinals' Willson Contreras is congratulated by his teammates after hitting a solo home run off Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Kolby Allard during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

St. Louis Cardinals' St. Louis Cardinals' Yohel Pozo, left, scores on a sacrifice fly by Brendan Donovan as Cleveland Guardians' Austin Hedges stands by during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

TORONTO (AP) — Tyrese Maxey scored 33 points, Joel Embiid had 27 and the Philadelphia 76ers used an 80-point first half to beat the Toronto Raptors 115-102 on Monday night.

VJ Edgecombe and Paul George each scored 15 points as the 76ers bounced back from Sunday’s overtime loss to Toronto to win for the sixth time in eight games.

Embiid (left knee and left groin) and George (left knee) were back in the lineup after sitting out Sunday.

Fans chanted “We want Lowry!” in the fourth quarter, then rose for a standing ovation when former Raptors player Kyle Lowry checked in for Maxey with 1:57 left to play.

Lowry starred for the Toronto team that won the 2019 NBA championship. He airballed a 3-pointer on his first attempt and missed all three shots he took.

Immanuel Quickley scored 18 points and Brandon Ingram had 17 points and 10 rebounds. Scottie Barnes scored 15 points for Toronto.

Barnes, who hit the game-winning free throw Sunday, was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week earlier Monday.

Philadelphia’s 80 first-half points were the most by a Raptors opponent this season. The 76ers made 27 of 37 field goals in the opening half, including 13 of 20 from long range, and shot 13 for 13 at the free throw line.

Maxey scored 18 points in the first to help Philadelphia build a 45-28 lead after one. He connected on six of seven attempts, including three of four from distance.

After shooting 8 for 31 from long range Sunday, the 76ers combined to make 7 of 8 3-pointers in the first. They followed that by making four straight to begin the second.

Ingram returned after missing two games because of a sore right thumb. RJ Barrett (left thumb) sat for the second straight game.

Philadelphia’s biggest lead was 33 points, 87-54, after an Edgecombe 3 with 8:24 remaining in the third.

76ers: Host Cleveland on Wednesday.

Raptors: At Indiana on Wednesday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley (5) moves the ball under pressure from Philadelphia 76ers guard Vj Edgecombe during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley (5) makes a pass under pressure from Philadelphia 76ers forward Adem Bona (30) and teammate Paul George (8) during first half NBA basketball action in Toronto, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors forward/center Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) dunks over Philadelphia 76ers forward Dominick Barlow (25) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) fouls Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) and Philadelphia 76ers centre/forward Joel Embiid (21) vie for a loose ball during first half NBA basketball action in Toronto, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)