Martínez and Rocchio go deep as Guardians defeat Cardinals 9-3 despite Walker's 8th homer

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Angel Martínez and Brayan Rocchio homered as the Cleveland Guardians beat the St. Louis Cardinals 9-3 on Monday night.

Gavin Williams (2-1) allowed two runs in five-plus innings for the win. He gave up five hits, walked two and struck out four.

Jordan Walker’s major league-best eighth home run leading off the sixth ended Williams’ night. Walker became the fifth player in Cardinals history to hit at least eight homers in the first 16 games of a season, joining Stan Musial (1954), Mark McGwire (1998), Scott Rolen (2004) and Albert Pujols (2006).

Martínez gave the Guardians a 1-0 lead in the first inning, sending Matthew Liberatore's curveball 398 feet over the left-field wall.

Daniel Schneemann’s two-run single sparked a Guardians rally in the fourth. Austin Hedges followed with a sacrifice fly to give Cleveland a 4-1 lead.

Rocchio made it 6-1 with a two-run homer off Justin Bruihl in the sixth that left his bat at 108.1 mph, according to Statcast.

Steven Kwan capped a three-run outburst in the eighth with a two-run single. Five of the nine Guardians batters reached safely at least twice.

Liberatore (0-1) needed a season-high 105 pitches to get through five innings. He allowed four runs on six hits, walked three and struck out two.

Alec Burleson’s RBI single drew the Cardinals even at 1 in the first, capping a string of three straight two-strike singles off Williams.

LHP Joey Cantillo (1-0, 2.45 ERA) starts for the Guardians against Cardinals RHP Michael McGreevy (1-1, 2.16) on Tuesday night.

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Cleveland Guardians center fielder Daniel Schneemann, left, catches a fly ball by St. Louis Cardinals' Alec Burleson as right fielder Angel Martínez (1) leaps but misses the ball to end the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, April 13, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Cleveland Guardians' David Fry, left, scores past St. Louis Cardinals catcher Pedro Pagés during the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, April 13, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Cleveland Guardians' Brayan Rocchio drops his bat after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, April 13, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Cade Smith and Daniel Schneemann celebrate a victory over the St. Louis Cardinals following a baseball game Monday, April 13, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Cleveland Guardians' Brayan Rocchio, right, is congratulated by teammate Steven Kwan (38) after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, April 13, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

BALTIMORE (AP) — Jeremiah Jackson hit a grand slam and a solo shot, Pete Alonso put Baltimore in front with a seventh-inning homer and the Orioles rallied from a six-run deficit to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-7 Monday night.

Nolan Arenado hit two home runs and had five RBIs, and Ketel Marte hit a pair of solo homers to put the Diamondbacks up 7-1 in the sixth.

But Arizona's bullpen gave up the lead.

Taylor Rashi allowed two hits and a walk in the sixth before Jackson hit a hanging slider into the left-field seats. One inning later, Jonathan Loáisiga (0-1) hit Taylor Ward with a pitch before Alonso launched his second homer of the season.

Alonso's drive to left-center was hit directly to “Mr. Splash,” who sprays fans in that section with water after big hits by Baltimore and on this occasion was wearing a polar bear head to honor the slugger.

Jackson led off the eighth with a homer off Andrew Hoffman to make it 9-7. It was Jackson's first career multi-homer game.

Albert Suárez (1-0) gave up three runs in two innings of relief, Rico Garcia pitched a perfect eighth and Ryan Helsley got three straight outs for his fifth save.

Recalled from Triple-A Norfolk before the game, Orioles starter Dean Kremer yielded three home runs but only two earned runs in five innings. He struck out nine and walked none in his first start of the season.

His 2026 debut got off a rocky start when Marte hit the first pitch of the game over the right-field wall. Marte also went deep in the third, and Arenado tacked on a two-run drive in the fourth and a three-run homer in the sixth.

Orioles manager Craig Albernaz was struck in the face by a foul ball hit by Jackson in the fifth inning. He was helped from the dugout into the tunnel and did not return.

Right-hander Merrill Kelly makes his season debut for Arizona on Tuesday night following a stint on the injured list. Trevor Rogers (2-0, 1.89 ERA) starts for Baltimore.

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Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Ryne Nelson delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, April 13, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, April 13, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Dean Kremer delivers during the second inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, April 13, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Orioles' Gunnar Henderson celebrates after hitting an RBI triple during the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, April 13, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Orioles' Blaze Alexander (23) scores past Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Adrian del Castillo, left, on an RBI triple hit by Orioles' Gunnar Henderson during the third inning of a baseball game, Monday, April 13, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)