Big fifth inning sends A's past Cardinals

Chad Pinder and Marcus Semien hit back-to-back homers as part of a six-run fifth inning and the visiting Oakland A's beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-3 on Tuesday night. Matt Olson had a homer and a single for the A's, who opened a six-game road trip.

Oakland starter Chris Bassitt allowed three runs in 3 1/3 innings before being lifted. Reliever J.B Wendelken (1-1) pitched 2/3 of an inning for the win. Five Oakland relievers combined to throw 5 2/3 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts. Matt Carpenter had a two-run triple for St. Louis and Marcell Ozuna had two hits and walked twice. Cardinals starter Jack Flaherty (4-5) was charged with seven runs on nine hits -- three of them homers -- over 4 2/3 innings.

Olson led off the second with a solo home run to give Oakland an early lead, but the Cardinals answered in the bottom half of the inning. Yadier Molina led off with a single and Dexter Fowler walked. With two outs, Carpenter sent a fly ball to deep center. Ramon Laureano misplayed the ball at the wall and it fell in for a two-run triple. Paul DeJong (two hits) followed with a ground-rule double to make it 3-1.

Oakland's Josh Phegley led off the fifth with a double and Pinder and Semien followed with back-to-back homers. With one out, Matt Chapman and Olson singled. A two-out single by Stephen Piscotty scored Chapman and ended Flaherty's night. John Brebbia came on and pinch hitter Khris Davis lined a double to center, scoring Olson and Piscotty. Earlier on Tuesday, Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak announced that closer Jordan Hicks (torn ulnar collateral ligament) would undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery Wednesday and Carlos Martinez will become the Cardinals' closer.