ST. LOUIS -- The road trip came to an end on a sour note for the Los Angeles Angels, as they were taken down 12-5 by the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday morning at Busch Stadium.
Logan O'Hoppe blasted a clutch grand slam in the seventh that temporarily gave the Angels the lead before the Cardinals exploded for nine runs across the seventh and eighth innings to take total control. It was a rough day out of the bullpen for Ian Anderson and Brock Burke, who combined to allow all nine runs as part of the St. Louis rally.
LOGAN O'HAMMERED 🔨 pic.twitter.com/Ccfmha2arw
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) April 2, 2025
It was the second career grand slam for the 25-year-old catcher.
Mike Trout got Los Angeles started on the right track in the first inning as he blasted his first home run of 2025 to dead center off of St. Louis starter Sonny Gray. The right-hander was pulled after failing to record an out in the seventh following O'Hoppes big homer.
Ivan Herrera would tie the game for the Cardinals in the fourth inning with a solo home run of his own off of Yuesei Kikuchi. Herrera struck again in the sixth, this time with a two-run shot that put St. Louis in front 3-1.
Exiting his second start as Angel after six innings, Kikuchi finished with six hits and three earned runs allowed. He tossed 104 pitches (59 strikes) and did not earn a decision in the contest.
#STLCards catcher Iván Herrera registered the first multi-HR game of his MLB career by destroying an 86.9 mph slider from #LAAngels Yusei Kikuchi.
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) April 2, 2025
Herrera hit this ball 414 feet with an EV of 112.1 mph. Unlike his first HR that hit off the 2nd deck, this one hit the 3rd deck. pic.twitter.com/2KFIRGVxj3
Anderson's implosion out of the bullpen in the seventh for Los Angeles started quickly as he immediately surrendered back-to-back singles to Masyn Winn and Lars Nootbar. Willson Contreras then stepped up and tied the game on an RBI double as both runs scored thanks to a poor relay throw from shortstop Nicky Lopez.
In the eighth, Anderson started the frame by allowing three consecutive singles, two of which did not even exit the infield. He was then pulled as the left-hander Burke came on in relief.
Burke induced a big first out with the bases loaded on a flyout from Nootbar before walking both Contreras and Alec Burleson as St. Louis went in front 7-5. A two-run single from Nolan Arenado made it 9-5 before Herrera destroyed his third home run of the day to bury the Angels fully.
3 HR
— MLB (@MLB) April 2, 2025
6 RBI
What a day for Iván Herrera! pic.twitter.com/fjBxsKaFNt
The Cardinals' catcher became the first in St. Louis history to hit three home runs in a single game. He and O'Hoppe combined to contribute 10 of the 17 runs scored on the day.
Los Angeles will now head back to California as they finished the opening road trip of the season 4-2. They will make their home debut on Friday as they welcome the Cleveland Guardians to town for a three-game series.
Jose Soriano will make his second start for the Angels as he looks to keep his momentum going from a shutout performance in his season debut against the Chicago White Sox. Soriano will face Cleveland right-hander Gavin Williams.
First pitch is scheduled for 6:38 p.m. PT.