Seattle starter Luis Castillo had by far his worst outing of the season, giving up three runs on seven hits in five innings — his shortest stint of the year. In his previous four starts this season, the right-hander had allowed just two runs and 11 hits in 24 2/3 innings.
Matt Brash (2-2) pitched a scoreless seventh, and Paul Sewald earned his sixth save.
The Cardinals’ first two batters singled off Castillo to open the game, and Nolan Arenado drove in the first run with a one-out single. St. Louis was in position for more, but left the bases loaded.
Run-scoring doubles by Willson Contreras and Nolan Gorman in the third gave the Cardinals a 3-1 lead.
St. Louis starter Miles Mikolas entered with an 8.10 ERA and generally kept the Mariners quiet. The only Seattle run in the first five innings came on Kelenic’s homer in the second. In the sixth, Hernández chased Mikolas with a two-run homer that tied it at 3.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cardinals: INF/OF Brendan Donovan, who returned to the starting lineup Friday after missing two games with a left shin abrasion, was out of the lineup again. St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol said Donovan would return Sunday.
Mariners: INF/OF Sam Haggerty was reinstated from the seven-day injured list after clearing concussion protocol. C/OF Cooper Hummel was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma.
UP NEXT
Cardinals RHP Jack Flaherty (1-2, 2.95 ERA) makes his second career start against the Mariners on Sunday, and first since 2019. Flaherty has allowed six hits or fewer in his last 29 starts. Mariners RHP Chris Flexen (0-3, 7.79) has lost all three of his starts this season. Flexen gave up four runs and six hits over six innings in his last start against Milwaukee.
