Andre Pallante pitched 5 1/3 solid innings and rookie JJ Wetherholt hit a two-run double with two outs in the fifth inning as the visiting St. Louis Cardinals withstood some rainy conditions and earned a 3-1 victory over the New York Yankees on Wednesday night.
After a 68-minute rain delay before the first pitch, the Cardinals won for the fourth time in their past five visits to Yankee Stadium and for the seventh time in their past 20 games overall, thanks to Pallante’s latest strong showing.
Pallante (12-6) limited the Yankees to a run on three hits and completed five innings for the 21st time in 22 starts this season. Pallante struck out four, walked three and became the National League’s seventh starter with at least 12 victories.
Pallante improved to 7-2 in his past 11 starts and helped himself by picking off Luis Garcia Jr. for the final out of the first. He got a pair of strikeouts in the second after Heliot Ramos doubled and started a double play on Austin Wells to end the fifth.
The right-hander exited after issuing consecutive walks to Ben Rice and Garcia in the sixth. Garcia walked after seeing 11 pitches and George Soriano plunked Ramos to load the bases before issuing a two-out walk to Jazz Chisholm Jr. that accounted for New York’s lone run.
The Cardinals had three baserunners off New York’s Will Warren (8-6) during the first four innings before a three-run fifth.
With runners on first and second, Wetherholt lifted a 1-1 pitch to center field. The ball soared over Trent Grisham’s head to the warning track while Blaze Jordan and Jimmie Crooks scored.
Ivan Herrera followed with a double to deep center field that bounced into the fence and scored Wetherholt, and the Cardinals’ bullpen made it hold up.
Soriano struck out Ryan McMahon to end the sixth with the bases loaded and Justin Bruihl stranded two in the seventh.
Ryne Stanek struck out rookie George Lombard Jr. on three pitches with two on to end the eighth. Riley O’Brien pitched the ninth for his 27th save in 32 chances.
Warren allowed three runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out five, walked one and dropped to 1-5 in his past 11 appearances.
The Yankees were 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
