Photos: Guardians beat Cardinals 5-1 with three late innings solo home runs
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Kyle Gibson gives up a couple late innings solor home runs as the Cleveland Guardians beat the Cardinals 5-1 on Friday, Sept, 20, 2024, at Busch Stadium
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle Gibson (44) sits in the dug out after giving up a solo home run to Cleveland Guardians José Ramírez in the fifth inning on Friday, Sept, 20, 2024, at Busch Stadium. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Cardinals starting pitcher Kyle Gibson reacts to giving up a solo home run to the Guardians’ José RamÃrez in the fifth inning Friday, Sept, 20, 2024, at Busch Stadium.
Cleveland Guardians Bo Naylor scores on a RBI single by Guardians Daniel Schneemann as St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle Gibson walks back to the mound in the fourth inning on Friday, Sept, 20, 2024, at Busch Stadium. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Steven Matz reacts after giving up a solo home run to Cleveland Guardians Lane Thomas in the eighth inning on Friday, Sept, 20, 2024, at Busch Stadium. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Cleveland Guardians catcher Bo Naylor and pitcher Erik Sabrowski celebrate the Guardians 5-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday, Sept, 20, 2024, at Busch Stadium. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Cleveland Guardians José Ramírez celebrates a sole home run off St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle Gibson in the fifth inning on Friday, Sept, 20, 2024, at Busch Stadium. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals Luken Baker reacts to strikes out stranding two runners on base to end the seventh inning of a game against the Cleveland Guardians on Friday, Sept, 20, 2024, at Busch Stadium. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle Gibson stands on the mound after giving up a solo home run to Cleveland Guardians Andrés Giménez in the sixth inning on Friday, Sept, 20, 2024, at Busch Stadium. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals third base Thomas Saggese (25) fields a grounder hit by Cleveland Guardians Lane Thomas and throws to first base for the out in the fifth inning on Friday, Sept, 20, 2024, at Busch Stadium. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle Gibson (44) sits in the dug out after giving up a solo home run to Cleveland Guardians José Ramírez in the fifth inning on Friday, Sept, 20, 2024, at Busch Stadium. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals Nolan Arenado hits a single off Cleveland Guardians pitcher Erik Sabrowski in the eighth inning on Friday, Sept, 20, 2024, at Busch Stadium. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals Lars Nootbaar motions back to the dugout after hitting a RBI double off Cleveland Guardians pitcher Ben Lively in the fourth inning to put the Cardinals on the board on Friday, Sept, 20, 2024, at Busch Stadium. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals Thomas Saggese motions to the dugout after hitting a stand up double off Cleveland Guardians pitcher Ben Lively in the third inning on Friday, Sept, 20, 2024, at Busch Stadium. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals third base Thomas Saggese drops the ball as Cleveland Guardians Angel Martínez slides safety to third base on a RBI single by Guardians José Ramírez in the third inning on Friday, Sept, 20, 2024, at Busch Stadium. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol watches the third inning along side coach Willie McGee on Friday, Sept, 20, 2024, at Busch Stadium. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals first base Paul Goldschmidt fields a grounder by Cleveland Guardians Andrés Giménez and throws to first base for an out in the second inning on Friday, Sept, 20, 2024, at Busch Stadium. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Cardinals third base Thomas Saggese throws to first for an out in the second inning against the Guardians on Friday, Sept, 20, 2024, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Kyle Gibson pitches to Cleveland Guardians Josh Naylor in the first inning on Friday, Sept, 20, 2024, at Busch Stadium. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Guest of St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (37) Kade King, 8, who is under treatment for cancer, stands with the team during the National Anthem before the start of a game against the Cleveland Guardians on Friday, Sept, 20, 2024, at Busch Stadium. Marmol was making Kade's wish to see a Major League Baseball game come true. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals Thomas Saggese (25) strikes out in the ninth inning of the Cardinals 5-1 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Friday, Sept, 20, 2024, at Busch Stadium. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Cleveland Guardians José Ramírez celebrates a sole home run off St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle Gibson in the fifth inning on Friday, Sept, 20, 2024, at Busch Stadium. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals Jordan Walker is last to leave the dugout as he reviews footage of last at bat at which he hit into a double play in the ninth inning of the Cardinals 5-1 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Friday, Sept, 20, 2024, at Busch Stadium. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Steven Matz (32) goes to work in the seventh inning of a game against the Cleveland Guardians on Friday, Sept, 20, 2024, at Busch Stadium. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Laurie Skrivan
Photographer
Veteran right-hander, 36, authored his 13th quality start in 5-1 loss to Cleveland on Friday, and afterward gave a glimpse of conversations he has with young pitchers, catchers who show his influence.
The Guardians, chasing the best record in the American League, win 5-1 to and help eliminate the Cardinals, officially and finally, from playoff contention.