JJ Wetherholt hits a 2-run homer and Cardinals jump on Athletics early in 6-4 win

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — JJ Wetherholt hit a two-run homer, José Fermín drove in two with a double and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Athletics 6-4 on Tuesday night.

The Cardinals snapped a two-game skid and improved their major league-best road record to 14-7. They have yet to lose three straight road games this season.

Andre Pallante (4-3) struck out four and allowed four hits and three runs in five innings. Four relievers followed, with Riley O'Brien working around a leadoff walk in the ninth for his 12th save.

Wetherholt's shot to right off Joel Kuhnel in the sixth inning put the Cardinals ahead 6-3.

St. Louis scored four times in the first inning. Jordan Walker drove in the first run with a single, Fermín's double brought in two and Yohel Pozo singled to score Fermín.

The A's answered in the second when Nick Kurtz hit an RBI single to extend his on-base streak to 35 games. His streak is the longest by an Athletics player since Jack Cust reached in 40 straight from Aug. 28, 2008 to April 18, 2009, and is the fourth-longest for the Athletics this century.

Shea Langeliers added an RBI double in the second and hit a 448-foot homer in the eighth for the A's.

Jeffrey Springs (3-3) gave up four runs in five innings. The A’s were held to six hits.

Iván Herrera had two of the Cardinals' 10 hits. St. Louis went 3 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

Cardinals LHP Matthew Liberatore (2-1, 4.07 ERA) gets the start against A's RHP J.T. Ginn (1-1, 3.62) as the series continues Wednesday.

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

St. Louis Cardinals' José Fermín hits an two RBI double during the first inning of a baseball game against the Athletics Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Andre Pallante throws to an Athletics batter during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Athletics' Nick Kurtz hits an RBI single during the second inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

St. Louis Cardinals' Jordan Walker, left, is caught in a run down during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

St. Louis Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt hits a two run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Anaheim center Ryan Poehling was helped off the ice after being checked hard into the boards by Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb midway through the first period of the Ducks' Game 5 loss Tuesday night.

McNabb, a first-pair D-man, received a five-minute major for interference and was sent to the dressing room with a game misconduct.

Anaheim announced Poehling would not return to the game because of an upper-body injury. Vegas won 3-2 in overtime to take a 3-2 series lead.

The Ducks got a goal off the power play when rookie Beckett Sennecke scored off a rebound with 7:24 left in the period. That extended his goals streak to four games.

Poehling entered the game with four goals and an assist in 10 playoff games.

McNabb slammed into Poehling with his shoulder. But the brunt of the hit caused the back of Poehling's head to hit the glass. He went to the ice and tried to stand, but was wobbly and went back down. He was helped off the ice to the locker room.

Game 6 is Thursday night in Anaheim.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe (2) and Jacob Trouba (65) tend to center Ryan Poehling (25) after being hit by Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb (3) during the first period of Game 5 of a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)

Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Poehling (25) skates against Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson (71) and Vegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl (48) during the first period of Game 2 of a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)