New month, same result.

Another disappointing performance from the offense spoils a strong start from Miles Mikolas. The Cardinals drop the rubber-match to Detroit 4-1 and fall three games under .500.

A six-game homestand against the White Sox and Mets is up next.

He'll lament the early hard contact, and he'll hate the two-run homer to Vierling, but all in all, it's another quality start for Miles Mikolas, who retired the last nine Tigers he faced.

The line: 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 101/67.

Best he'll get is a no-decision.

Big swing for Willson Contreras, who smacks a solo shot to straightaway CF to put the Cardinals on the board here in the fourth. St. Louis needed that after Matt Vierling's two-run shot the inning prior.

That's the fifth homer of the year for Contreras. 3-1, DET.

Steven Matz is set for an MRI on Thursday. Cardinals will decide the next move from there.

#STLCards going for the series win vs. DET:

1. Donovan 7
2. Contreras 2
3. Nootbaar 9
4. Arenado 5
5. Goldschmidt DH
6. Burleson 3
7. Winn 6
8. Gorman 4
9. Siani 8

SP: Mikolas

Let's expand on why the Cardinals let Matz pitch today.

Bc of the double header, they have three games to play within 24/25 hours. That's 27 innings. Can't do a bullpen game even with a 27th man. Matz said he was good to pitch through it but obviously, he was hindered by it.

Cardinals are terming it lower-back soreness for now. They’ll have more clarity after Matz meets with trainers. Matz felt his back tighten up during a run earlier in the week, has been dealing with it for four days. #STLCards

Steven Matz was trying to pitch through a lower-back issue that came up between starts. Thought the rainout/extra day would be enough to push through it. Explains the quick hook today and the drop in velo. He’s scheduled for an evaluation tomorrow. #STLCards

The chase for .500 continues. The Cardinals split the double header with the Tigers, lose game 2 by a score of 11-6. The bats came alive in the middle innings, but Steven Matz and Giovanny Gallegos struggled on the pitching side.

Rubber match tomorrow.

Tink Hence was absolutely UNREAL tonight. The #Cardinals number one prospect goes a career-long seven innings while striking out a career-high 10 batters.

Final line: 7.0 IP, 2 H, ER, 2 BB, 10 K

Paul Goldschmidt has his fourth hit of the game, Alec Burleson has his fourth RBI and the #STLCards are within one. To the seventh-inning stretch we go.

Wenceel Pérez's second homer of the night is a no-doubter.

Half an inning after the Cardinals post a five-run fifth, they'll need to rally again. 7-5, Detroit.

Alec Burleson, see ya laterrrr.

Burleson barrels one up to the opposite field for a three-run homer. It's a 5-4 ball game. Huge inning for St. Louis.

Brendan Donovan, see ya laterrrr.

Donnie smokes a four-seamer from Matt Manning 104 mph for a two-run homer, his third home run of the year. It halves the deficit to 4-2, Cardinals are right back in it.

Quick hook for Steven Matz today, who allowed four earned runs and pitched through a ton of traffic. He's unavailable to get out of the fourth inning.

27th man Kyle Leahy is on the scene. He'll inherit two runners on with one out.

Game 2, comin at ya fast #STLCards

That’s save No. 10 for Ryan Helsley btw, a major-league high

A spectacularly pitched ballgame from both ends ultimately comes down to a timely rally for the Cardinals, who come alive in the ninth inning and grind out a 2-1 victory over the Tigers in Game 1.

We'll play Game 2 in approximately 40 min. #STLCards

Pedro Pagés first major-league RBI is a big one.

A deep sac fly to CF gives the #STLCards the lead.

Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt and Alec Burleson lace back-to-back-to-back singles with one out in the ninth, and would ya look at that, a run is on the board.

It's a #brandnewballgame . Cardinals have runners on the corners with one out for Pedro Pagés.