Contreras homer sparks Cardinals over Pirates 6-3
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Willson Contreras hit a go-ahead home run in a four-run sixth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-3 on Monday night for their third straight victory.
Contreras' fifth home run came off Pirates reliever Chase Shugart, who walked Nolan Arenado after coming in with the bases empty, one out and a 3-2 lead. Jose Barrero, who hit his first homer as a Cardinal earlier, added a bases-loaded ground-rule double off Shugart for a 6-3 lead.
Oneil Cruz beat out a high hopper to Cardinals starter Miles Mikola leading off the first and Bryan Reynolds followed with his fifth home run for a 2-0 lead.
Barrero led off the third with a solo shot off Pirates starter Carmen Mlodzinski, and Alec Burleson followed with his second homer in as many games to tie it 2-all. Burleson's homer went 435 feet — the longest by a Cardinal this season.
Joey Bart drew a leadoff walk in the fourth and scored on a hit by Adam Frazier to put the Pirates ahead.
Mikolas allowed three runs on four hits in five innings. Gordon Graceffo (2-0) pitched the sixth for the win. Ryan Helsley notched his sixth save.
Mlodzinski allowed four hits and two runs in 4 2/3 innings. Shugart (1-2) gave up four runs on five hits and didn't record an out.
The Cardinals (17-19) swept a doubleheader with the Mets on Sunday after winning two against the Reds on Wednesday.
The Pirates (12-24) have lost five in a row and 8 of 9.
Key moment
Helsey struck out Reynolds looking with runners on second and third to end it.
Key stat
Cruz was hit by a pitch leading off the third before being thrown out by Pedro Pagés trying to steal, ending a run of 35 successful attempts including 15 this season.
Up next
RHP Paul Skenes (3-3, 2.74) starts Tuesday for the Pirates against Cardinals LHP Matthew Liberatore (2-3, 3.44).
___
AP MLB:
https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Soccer ban sparks fears of widening trans exclusion in the UK
LONDON (AP) — It was not her best goal or most important soccer match, but when the ball hit the back of the net in Natalie Washington's debut on a women's team in 2017, she felt a sense of belonging that had been missing. It was long in coming: Washington had struggled to fit in on a men's team and eventually stopped playing when she decided to transition to being a woman and go through gender-affirming surgery. When she joined a women's team, she quickly felt accepted. Now, after the United Kingdom's highest court in April said that for anti-discrimination purposes the terms 'woman' and 'man' refer to biological sex, Washington's opportunity to play the sport she loves in the league she wants is in doubt. The head of the U.K's Equality and Human Rights Commission followed the ruling a day later by saying the court had provided clarity and that transgender women would be excluded from women-only spaces such as toilets, single-sex hospital wards and sports teams. The Football Association, the regulatory body for soccer in the U.K., followed up by banning transgender players from women's teams in England and Scotland, a ban that took effect at the start of June. 'It feels like things are being taken away from trans people on an almost daily basis,' Washington said. 'It's another blow, another kick at a time when people are already hurting.' Long a divisive issue Beyond Britain, inclusion of trans players in sports has long been a divisive issue, with arguments primarily focused on whether it's fair to have athletes born as boys compete against girls and women. In the U.S., it has been particularly politicized, with most Republican-controlled states banning transgender athletes in girls' sports and President Donald Trump signing an executive order to prohibit participation of transgender athletes from girls' and women's sports. The U.K. court said trans people were still protected from discrimination under British law, such as in employment, housing and education, but the ruling means access to certain single-sex facilities could be curtailed. Trans rights groups condemned the decision, which is likely to have a profound effect for thousands. Out of some 66 million people in England, Scotland and Wales, about 116,000 identified as trans in the latest census count. The feminist groups who led the legal challenge cheered the ruling and others, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, welcomed the clarity it brought. 'Everyone knows what sex is and you can't change it,' said Susan Smith, co-director of For Women Scotland, which brought the case. A difficult decision Washington, who leads the group Football v Transphobia, was one of 28 transgender women registered with the Football Association to play amateur soccer. In order to play the women's game, they had to have testosterone levels reduced to the range of biologically born females. After the ruling, the organization changed its rules, saying that although it had aimed to make soccer accessible to as many people as possible, it was always prepared to alter its policy if there were changes in the law or science. 'We understand that this will be difficult for people who simply want to play the game they love in the gender by which they identify,' the FA said, adding that it would contact transgender women currently playing to explain the changes and how they can remain involved. Some clubs have responded by finding ways around the ban. Goal Diggers FC, a women and nonbinary inclusive soccer club based in London, has withdrawn from all FA-affiliated leagues. On June 1, the day the ban took effect, Goal Diggers hosted an inclusive women's tournament in London, drawing more than 100 players in a show of solidarity. 'I'll always have a place here and I'll always be a trans woman,' said Billie Sky, a 28-year-old trans player for Goal Diggers. 'No one can take that away from me.' Other voices, other sports Groups that have campaigned to keep trans athletes from girls' and women's teams, citing a matter of safety and fairness, welcomed the move by the FA. 'The FA had ample evidence of the harms to women and girls caused by its nonsensical policy of letting men who identify as women play in women's teams,' said Fiona McAnena of Sex Matters. Groups that oversee cricket and netball, an offshoot of basketball that is played mainly by women, also limited women's competition to those who were assigned at birth as females. The England and Wales Cricket Board said transgender women and girls could continue playing in open and mixed cricket. England Netball said it would allow anyone to play in a new mixed category beginning in September. How the ruling came about The legal case involved a 2018 Scottish law requiring at least half of the seats on public boards to be held by women. Trans women with certificates recognizing their gender were to be included in meeting the quota. The court said that using the certificates to identify someone's gender clashes with the definitions of man and woman. Under the ruling, a transgender person could not claim they had been discriminated against if barred from a single-sex space. Alexander Maine, a senior lecturer at The City Law School specializing in gender, sexuality and law, said the ruling clouds the value of a document sanctioned by the U.K. Gender Recognition Act that allows them to later update their birth certificate reflecting their acquired gender. 'There may be a challenge at the European Court of Human Rights brought by trans individuals who say that there is a problem where they may be two sexes at once,' Maine said. Someone could hold 'a gender recognition certificate stating that they are their acquired gender, whereas under the U.K. Equality Act, they are still recognized in their birth gender,' he said. Washington and many others say they worry the ruling may lead to more hatred aimed at trans people. 'For the first time in a long time, I felt scared about how people are going to react to me in public,' Washington said. 'I don't feel anymore that I can guarantee I have support to turn to from authorities.' ___ Brian Melley in London contributed to this report. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Cardinals 2025 trade deadline preview: Buyers? Sellers? And who's running the show?
With his club exceeding expectations, John Mozeliak has an interesting predicament ahead. The St. Louis Cardinals (47-39) have played their way into National League contention. Now, the Cardinals' longtime president of baseball operations must decide which direction to take at the trade deadline. Welcome to July, Cardinals fans. Let the rumors fly. Advertisement The next 31 days could make or break the Cardinals' season. If they falter, the path for Mozeliak is clear — sell off expiring contracts and continue creating opportunity for young players. But if the Cardinals stay in the race? That's where things get complicated. With the trade deadline month underway, The Athletic has you covered on what to monitor. Here's an early look at the Cardinals' deadline. Mozeliak calls the shots here. He remains in charge of major-league decisions in his final year, and that includes the deadline. Adviser Chaim Bloom will be available to, well, advise, but it's unclear how much say he'll have — if any — come July 31. This could change if Mozeliak swings a trade that impacts 2026 and beyond. Bloom will take over after the season, meaning any contract Mozeliak lands that extends past this year will be Bloom's responsibility. It is highly unlikely Mozeliak would sign off on a trade that has significant ramifications for next season and beyond without heavy input from his successor. But the likelihood of the Cardinals agreeing to a trade of that magnitude in the first place is also unlikely. As competitive as they've been, the focus remains on the future. Mozeliak has maintained his intentions to compete this year, despite a reset season and a reduction in payroll. Credit where it's due: St. Louis has been one of baseball's most surprising success stories. This ups the ante for Mozeliak. Can he improve his club without deviating from the organization's long-term plan? Will he receive support from ownership, despite a significant decline in gate revenue and a restructured television deal? Will the pressure of pleasing a dissatisfied fan base impact decisions? Is this team capable of sustaining this level of success? These are all things the Cardinals' top exec will weigh over the next month. Advertisement Barring a collapse, it's unlikely the Cardinals will be true sellers. However, it's equally doubtful St. Louis commits to an all-in approach. The organization has an opportunity to trade away players, bolster the farm system and open up major-league opportunity for a handful of players, and improve while doing so. How does that make sense? Take a look at the Detroit Tigers. Last year, the Tigers traded several players on expiring deals, including Jack Flaherty, Andrew Chafin, Carson Kelly and Mark Canha. Detroit netted a handful of prospects and opened the door for several of its young players to play every day. By definition, the Tigers were sellers. But the Tigers took off in the second half, going 30-13 from Aug. 13 on to clinch an improbable wild-card spot. Detroit now has the best record in the American League. This is an extreme example that shows it's possible to sell and remain competitive. If the Cardinals keep up their pace, Mozeliak could mix and match where he sells and where he adds. One thing that is mostly assured: Regardless of direction, moves are expected to be incremental. Blockbuster deals aren't on the horizon for St. Louis, especially not this year. Plenty of Cardinals players will draw interest. Many will have significant value. Neither of those things means much if the Cardinals are unwilling to engage. Ryan Helsley, Steven Matz, Erick Fedde, Phil Maton and Miles Mikolas are in the final years of their contracts. If St. Louis intends to add via subtraction like Detroit, offloading impending free agents is a sensible place to start. But just because a contract bodes well for logistics doesn't mean the team will follow through. Mikolas has a full no-trade clause. It's improbable he waives it, even if the Cardinals entertain offers on him. Matz and Maton will generate considerable interest as high-leverage relievers, and the value of bullpen arms tends to peak around the deadline. But both veterans have played key roles in the Cardinals' late-inning success. If the team wants to make a second-half push, established veterans with postseason experience are what it should be targeting, not trading away. Advertisement Helsley's case is complicated. The two-time All-Star has seen his ERA jump to 3.41, nearly 1 1/2 runs above his 2.04 mark in 2024, and his fastball command has been erratic. Yet he remains one of the game's top closers — and contending teams will overpay for an elite ninth-inning arm, regardless of expiring contract status. If the Cardinals consider themselves contenders, would they trade their top reliever? If they keep him, do they risk letting him walk in free agency (something that will ultimately be a Bloom decision)? St. Louis may receive such a strong offer that it feels compelled to move Helsley. But initial internal conversations have suggested the opposite. The Cardinals may feel inclined to hold on to Helsley and decide on his future at the end of the season, and weigh the risk of losing out on a return if he walks in free agency. This situation is likely to fluctuate throughout the next few weeks. Fedde is the likeliest to be traded. Much like last season with the Chicago White Sox, Fedde (who is in the final year of a two-year, $7.5 million deal) would garner considerable interest as a low-cost, mid-rotation starter. The purpose of swapping Fedde would be to open up a rotation spot for Michael McGreevy. But if they part ways with a starter, the club risks being left unprotected if a starting pitcher lands on the injured list. The lack of major-league-ready depth in Triple A remains a concern and could give the organization pause regarding a potential Fedde trade. The Cardinals would benefit from adding one more high-leverage right-handed reliever. Kyle Leahy has done a nice job setting up Maton and Helsley, but acquiring an experienced veteran could help settle things for an inexperienced bullpen. Things are much murkier from the position player standpoint. St. Louis could target an impact bat, but that would come at the cost of playing time for at least one of its budding hitters. The Cardinals already face a logjam when they activate Jordan Walker (appendicitis) off the injured list as early as Friday. They'll be even more compacted when Iván Herrera (Grade 2 hamstring strain) comes back, potentially by the end of the month. The Cardinals find it challenging enough to find ample playing time for Alec Burleson and Nolan Gorman. Injuries changed that, and both hitters have prospered in their new everyday roles. Adding a bat would come at the expense of one player, if not both. Would acquiring a rental be worth parting with talent and also delaying development for two key players? That's another thing Mozeliak must consider among a long list of decisions before July 31. (Top photo of Ryan Helsley: Scott Kane / Getty Images)
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Soccer ban sparks fears of widening trans exclusion in the UK
LONDON (AP) — It was not her best goal or most important soccer match, but when the ball hit the back of the net in Natalie Washington's debut on a women's team in 2017, she felt a sense of belonging that had been missing. It was long in coming: Washington had struggled to fit in on a men's team and eventually stopped playing when she decided to transition to being a woman and go through gender-affirming surgery. When she joined a women's team, she quickly felt accepted. Now, after the United Kingdom's highest court in April said that for anti-discrimination purposes the terms 'woman' and 'man' refer to biological sex, Washington's opportunity to play the sport she loves in the league she wants is in doubt. The head of the U.K's Equality and Human Rights Commission followed the ruling a day later by saying the court had provided clarity and that transgender women would be excluded from women-only spaces such as toilets, single-sex hospital wards and sports teams. The Football Association, the regulatory body for soccer in the U.K., followed up by banning transgender players from women's teams in England and Scotland, a ban that took effect at the start of June. 'It feels like things are being taken away from trans people on an almost daily basis," Washington said. 'It's another blow, another kick at a time when people are already hurting.' Beyond Britain, inclusion of trans players in sports has long been a divisive issue, with arguments primarily focused on whether it's fair to have athletes born as boys compete against girls and women. In the U.S., it has been particularly politicized, with most Republican-controlled states banning transgender athletes in girls' sports and President Donald Trump signing an executive order to prohibit participation of transgender athletes from girls' and women's sports. The U.K. court said trans people were still protected from discrimination under British law, such as in employment, housing and education, but the ruling means access to certain single-sex facilities could be curtailed. Trans rights groups condemned the decision, which is likely to have a profound effect for thousands. Out of some 66 million people in England, Scotland and Wales, about 116,000 identified as trans in the latest census count. The feminist groups who led the legal challenge cheered the ruling and others, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, welcomed the clarity it brought. 'Everyone knows what sex is and you can't change it,' said Susan Smith, co-director of For Women Scotland, which brought the case. A difficult decision Washington, who leads the group Football v Transphobia, was one of 28 transgender women registered with the Football Association to play amateur soccer. In order to play the women's game, they had to have testosterone levels reduced to the range of biologically born females. After the ruling, the organization changed its rules, saying that although it had aimed to make soccer accessible to as many people as possible, it was always prepared to alter its policy if there were changes in the law or science. 'We understand that this will be difficult for people who simply want to play the game they love in the gender by which they identify,' the FA said, adding that it would contact transgender women currently playing to explain the changes and how they can remain involved. Some clubs have responded by finding ways around the ban. Goal Diggers FC, a women and nonbinary inclusive soccer club based in London, has withdrawn from all FA-affiliated leagues. On June 1, the day the ban took effect, Goal Diggers hosted an inclusive women's tournament in London, drawing more than 100 players in a show of solidarity. 'I'll always have a place here and I'll always be a trans woman,' said Billie Sky, a 28-year-old trans player for Goal Diggers. 'No one can take that away from me.' Other voices, other sports Groups that have campaigned to keep trans athletes from girls' and women's teams, citing a matter of safety and fairness, welcomed the move by the FA. 'The FA had ample evidence of the harms to women and girls caused by its nonsensical policy of letting men who identify as women play in women's teams,' said Fiona McAnena of Sex Matters. Groups that oversee cricket and netball, an offshoot of basketball that is played mainly by women, also limited women's competition to those who were assigned at birth as females. The England and Wales Cricket Board said transgender women and girls could continue playing in open and mixed cricket. England Netball said it would allow anyone to play in a new mixed category beginning in September. How the ruling came about The legal case involved a 2018 Scottish law requiring at least half of the seats on public boards to be held by women. Trans women with certificates recognizing their gender were to be included in meeting the quota. The court said that using the certificates to identify someone's gender clashes with the definitions of man and woman. Under the ruling, a transgender person could not claim they had been discriminated against if barred from a single-sex space. Alexander Maine, a senior lecturer at The City Law School specializing in gender, sexuality and law, said the ruling clouds the value of a document sanctioned by the U.K. Gender Recognition Act that allows them to later update their birth certificate reflecting their acquired gender. 'There may be a challenge at the European Court of Human Rights brought by trans individuals who say that there is a problem where they may be two sexes at once," Maine said. Someone could hold 'a gender recognition certificate stating that they are their acquired gender, whereas under the U.K. Equality Act, they are still recognized in their birth gender,' he said. Washington and many others say they worry the ruling may lead to more hatred aimed at trans people. 'For the first time in a long time, I felt scared about how people are going to react to me in public,' Washington said. 'I don't feel anymore that I can guarantee I have support to turn to from authorities.' Brian Melley in London contributed to this report.
