The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Baltimore Orioles 7-5 at Busch Stadium on Thursday, August 27, in a nine-inning game that required every bit of their bullpen depth to close out. Blaze Jordan supplied the big blow — a home run with three RBI — while Ramón Urías added his own solo-plus shot for two more. Luis Gastelum earned the win in relief and Riley O'Brien recorded the save, giving the Cardinals a two-run victory that was closer than the Cardinals would have liked but a win nonetheless.

Cardinals Offense Punishes Trevor Rogers Early

Baltimore starter Trevor Rogers lasted five innings but surrendered six earned runs on seven hits while striking out seven. The Cardinals did their damage against Rogers in bunches, with Blaze Jordan's home run serving as the decisive blow. Ramón Urías added a two-RBI home run of his own, and Alec Burleson went 2-for-4 with an RBI to keep the offense humming. Jordan Walker also contributed a 2-for-4 performance, putting pressure on Rogers from the top of the order throughout the evening.

Gordon Graceffo Delivers a Sharp Start Before Bullpen Takes Over

Gordon Graceffo was the story on the mound early. He threw three perfect innings — no hits, no walks, no earned runs — while striking out four Orioles batters. It was a dominant stretch that handed the bullpen a clean slate to work with. That bullpen, however, was a mixed bag the rest of the way.

  • Justin Bruihl: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 K
  • Luis Gastelum: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 K (winning pitcher)
  • Caleb Ferguson: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 K
  • George Soriano: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 K
  • Riley O'Brien: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 K (save)

Ferguson's rough inning — three earned runs allowed — let the Orioles claw back into a game that had looked comfortable. Coby Mayo did the most damage for Baltimore, going deep for a three-RBI home run that made it a two-run contest. Jackson Holliday and Christian Encarnacion-Strand each went 2-for-4 for the Orioles, giving the Cardinals' relief corps plenty of trouble late.

Turning Point: Gastelum Steadies the Ship After Ferguson's Struggles

With Baltimore threatening to erase the Cardinals' lead entirely, Luis Gastelum came on and shut the door. His 1.1 innings of scoreless ball — no hits, no walks, two strikeouts — stopped the bleeding and preserved enough of a cushion for St. Louis to survive Ferguson's rough outing. Gastelum's performance was the clear hinge point of the game, earning him the win. O'Brien then handled the ninth with minimal drama, allowing one hit but nothing more.

Key Performers at a Glance

Cardinals

  • Blaze Jordan: 1-for-3, 1 HR, 3 RBI
  • Ramón Urías: 1-for-3, 1 HR, 2 RBI
  • Alec Burleson: 2-for-4, 1 RBI
  • Jordan Walker: 2-for-4
  • Gordon Graceffo: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 4 K
  • Luis Gastelum: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 K (W)
  • Riley O'Brien: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 K (SV)

Orioles

  • Coby Mayo: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI
  • Jackson Holliday: 2-for-4
  • Christian Encarnacion-Strand: 2-for-4
  • Trevor Rogers: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 7 K (L)

What's Next for the Cardinals

St. Louis takes a 7-5 win into whatever comes next on the schedule. The offense showed it can generate multi-run production through the middle of the lineup, and Graceffo's three perfect innings were a genuine bright spot. The bullpen's inconsistency — particularly Ferguson's three-run frame — is something worth monitoring. This Cardinals team got the result it needed on Thursday, and right now, that's what counts.