Cards stage late rally vs. White Sox, take twin-bill opener

The St. Louis Cardinals rallied for three runs in the eighth inning to take a 5-4 win against the host Chicago White Sox in the opener of a doubleheader on Thursday.

Cardinals starting pitcher Erick Fedde gave up two runs (one earned) on six hits in five innings. Reliever Andre Granillo (1-0) got the final out in the seventh for the win, and Ryan Helsley tossed a perfect ninth for the save.

White Sox starter Sean Burke allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and fanned seven in 5 1/3 innings. Chicago has lost seven straight.

St. Louis rallied to take a 5-4 lead in the top of the eighth off Cam Booser (1-4). After Alec Burleson opened with a single, Willson Contreras launched a fastball into the left-center field seats to tie it 4-4.

Nolan Gorman reached on a throwing error and eventually scored on Yohel Pozo's two-out single to put the Cardinals in front.

Chicago broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth. With Lenyn Sosa on, Michael A. Taylor belted a two-run home run inside the left field pole to make it 4-2.

It looked like the Cardinals were going to blow the game open in the first.

Burke walked Masyn Winn to lead it off, gave up a single to Ivan Herrera, and walked Burleson to load the bases. Contreras followed with a sacrifice fly that brought Winn home to make it 1-0.

But that was all the visitors would get, with a strikeout and flyout ending the inning.

Chicago tied it 1-1 in the fourth. Miguel Vargas and Kyle Teel each singled and the pair advanced on Luis Robert Jr.'s sacrifice bunt. Vargas came in to score when Josh Rojas reached on a throwing error by Winn.

The White Sox took a 2-1 lead in the fifth. Andrew Benintendi tripled into the right field corner and scored on Vargas' ensuing single.

St. Louis tied it 2-2 in the sixth. Herrera singled and Burleson reached on catcher interference before Burke struck out Contreras. That ended Burke's outing, giving way to left-hander Brandon Eisert.

Eisert got Gorman to ground out, filled the bases with an intentional walk to Arenado, and then walked Lars Nootbaar, bringing in Herrera.

--Field Level Media