MLB Rickwood Field Game final score, results: Brendan Donovan drives in three as Cardinals hold on to beat Giants

Brendan OSullivan

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MLB Rickwood Field Game final score, results: Brendan Donovan drives in three as Cardinals hold on to beat Giants image

The first Major League Baseball game at the oldest ballpark in the United States did not disappoint.

From the numerous stories told to a nail-biting finish, baseball fans had themselves a treat in the league's trip to Alabama.

The Cardinals (37-37) defeated the Giants, 6-5, in the first-of-its-kind Rickwood Field game. Brendan Donovan, who grew up in Alabama, starred for the St. Louis offense, going 3-for-4 with three RBI.

His two-run shot in the first inning began a high-scoring game between the two NL squads. Donovan finished a triple shy of a cycle.

WILLIE MAYS: Stats | Best moments | Nickname | Basket catch

Andre Pallante earned the win for the Cardinals after throwing 5.1 innings on 95 pitches, his highest pitch total this season. The former reliever made his fifth start of the season after spending April in the bullpen.

The Giants (36-40) threatened in the ninth, getting runners on first and second, but Ryan Helsley picked up his 25th save of the season to secure the win.

Both teams will have Friday off as they travel to St. Louis to finish their three-game series.

The Sporting News has you covered with live scores, updates and highlights from the Cardinals vs. Giants game at Rickwood Field.

MORE: Watch MLB games live with Fubo (free trial)

Cardinals vs. Giants score

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MORE: Revisiting the history of the Birmingham Black Barons 

MLB Rickwood Field Game updates, highlights from Cardinals vs. Giants

(All times Eastern)

Final: Cardinals 6, Giants 5

10:31 p.m.: Chapman strikes out swinging to end the game. Cardinals win 6-5.

10:29 p.m.: Bailey singles to right, keeping the Giants' hopes alive. Runners on first and second with two outs.

10:27 p.m.: Helsley gets Ramos to swing on a slider for the strikeout. That's two outs with Bailey up to bat.

10:23 p.m.: Uh oh, leadoff walk for Trenton Brooks, who pinch hit for Ahmed. Tying run is on first with no outs. Tyler Fitzgerald is pinch running.

10:22 p.m.: Ryan Helsley is in for the Cardinals, looking to close this out. 

End of eighth

10:19 p.m.: Rogers gets out of the inning with another strikeout. Giants are down to their final three outs.

10:16 p.m.: Tyler Rogers, twin brother of Taylor, enters the game in relief. He gets a quick two outs, including striking out Donovan who was a triple away from a cycle.

End of top eighth

10:13 p.m.: Another 1-2-3 inning for the Cardinals, who still lead 6-5.

10:10 p.m.: Adam Kloffenstein comes in as relief and gets Soler to ground out to shortstop. Flores then flies out to center right after.

End of seventh

10:05 p.m.: Walker gets another strikeout to end the inning. Three up, three down for the reliever.

10:01 p.m.: Ryan Walker is in to pitch for the Giants. Filthy pitch gets Winn swinging for the first out.

End of top seventh

9:57 p.m.: King strikes out Conforto to end the inning. Cardinals lead 6-5 heading into the bottom of the seventh.

9:53 p.m.: Bailey singles to left field with one out.

9:49 p.m.: Ramos flies out to right field on the first pitch of the inning. That's it for Kittredge. John King comes in for relief.

End of sixth

9:46 p.m.: 1-2-3 for Rogers to close out the sixth inning.

End of top sixth

9:38 p.m.: Wisely strands runners on first and second to end the inning.

9:37 p.m.: Ahmed works a full count and records a sac fly. Giants get another run, narrowing the deficit. Cardinals lead 6-5.

9:34 p.m.: Slater singles to center, loading the bases for Ahmed with one out.

9:31 p.m.: Flores lines one to center field, scoring Chapman. Siani somehow keeps the ball in front of him on the dive. Runners on first and second, which could have been much worse for St. Louis had Siani not made that play. Cardinals still lead 6-4.

9:30 p.m.: Andrew Kittredge is in for relief.

9:27 p.m.: Soler walks on five pitches. Runners on first and second with one out. That's it for Pallante after 95 pitches.

9:25 p.m.: Conforto strikes out swinging for the first out of the sixth.

9:22 p.m.: Chapman slides in safely for a leadoff double.

End of fifth

9:16 p.m.: Donovan singles to drive in the Cardinals' sixth run.

9:13 p.m.: Taylor Rogers comes in for relief with two outs.

9:10 p.m.: Filthy pitch away to get Gorman swinging for strike three swinging. 

9:08 p.m.: Goldschmidt drills a single past a diving first baseman to get runners on first and second.

9:06 p.m.: Burleson gets hit by a pitch to give the Cardinals a base runner with one out.

End of top fifth

9:02 p.m.: Bailey flies out to right field to end the top half of the inning. 

9 p.m.: Ramos grounds into a double play.

8:59 p.m.: Fox is using a filter to emulate an old-school telecast of baseball for the top half of the fifth.

8:57 p.m.: Wisely leads off with a walk in the fifth.

End of fourth

8:53 p.m.: Crawford is picked off on second base to end the inning.

8:51 p.m.: Two straight strikeouts for Rodriguez. A wild pitch advances Crawford to second base with two outs.

8:47 p.m.: Leadoff walk for Crawford, who is playing his first game at 3B for the injured Nolan Arenado.

End of top fourth

8:43 p.m.: Your typical 1-4-3 double play to end the top half of the fourth.

8:42 p.m.: Slater walks and runners are on first and second with one out.

8:38 p.m.: Soler nearly clears the wall, driving a double to deep center field. 

End of third

8:35 p.m.: Randy Rodriguez comes in for relief. His wild pitch allows a run in, but he gets a strikeout shortly after. Cardinals lead 5-3.

8:30 p.m.: Donovan nearly hits another home run, but a tall portion of the right field wall limits him to a double. Runners on second and third now.

8:29 p.m.: Gorman drives in another run on his second sac fly of the night. Cardinals lead 4-3.

8:28 p.m.: Swing and a miss from Goldschmidt. One out.

8:26 p.m.: Winn doubles to left field and Burleson follows up with a single. Runners are on first and third with no outs to start the bottom of the third.

End of top third

8:21 p.m.: Conforto grounds out to first on the first pitch. Quick two outs for Pallante to end the inning.

8:21 p.m.: Chapman strikes out. Two outs now.

8:17 p.m.: Bailey reaches on an infield single to keep the Giants' rally going.

8:16 p.m.: See ya! Ramos barely clears the right field wall to tie the game at 3-3 in the top of the third.

8:15 p.m.: Wisely singles to center and now the Giants have a runner in scoring position.

8:13 p.m.: Ahmed goes down swinging on a nice breaking ball from Pallante.

8:12 p.m.: Yastrzemski starts off the third inning with a single up the middle.

End of second

8:07 p.m.: All players in tonight's game have a 24 patch on their jersey to honor Mays.

8:06 p.m.: Pages grounds out to 3B for the second out.

8:04 p.m.: Crawford strikes out swinging for the first out.

End of top second

8 p.m.: Another ground out for the Giants. Pallante is dealing right now.

7:59 p.m.: Soler strikes out swinging for out two.

7:56 p.m.: Conforto grounds out to begin the top half of the second inning.

End of first

7:53 p.m.: Matt Carpenter grounds out to end the inning.

7:52 p.m.: BOOM! Donovan rocks a two-run shot to right field as the Cardinals take a 3-0 lead.

7:50 p.m.: Cardinals get on the board via Gorman's sac fly. St. Louis leads 1-0 with two outs.

7:49 p.m.: Oh wow, Ahmed snags a liner right at him at shortstop despite the sun in his face.

7:48 p.m.: Burleson drives a single to the right field wall, advancing Winn to third base. Runners are on first and third with no outs.

7:47 p.m.: Keaton Winn walks Masyn Winn to start the bottom half of the first. 

End of top first

7:43 p.m.: Chapman grounds out to 3B to end the inning.

7:42 p.m.: Bailey knocks one to right field for the first hit of the ball game. He picks up a single.

7:41 p.m.: Pallante strikes out Ramos for the second out of the inning. Two up, two down for the Cardinals.

7:37 p.m.: Pallante misses the zone for ball one to start the game.

7:34 p.m.: Players are taking the field as the Rickwood Field game is about to begin.

7:25 p.m.: Welcome to Rickwood Field.

7:09 p.m.: A few of the original Negro Leagues players are taking the field prior to tonight's first pitch.

7:08 p.m.: Barry Bonds talks about his relationship with Willie Mays.

6:53 p.m.: A few of baseball's greats pregame.

6:37 p.m.: Less than an hour to go until first pitch at Rickwood Field.

6:23 p.m.: Here's a look at the two clubs outside Rickwood Field ahead of tonight's matchup.

6:10 p.m.: Starting lineups for both squads:

Cardinals:

  1. Masyn Winn, SS
  2. Alec Burleson, RF
  3. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
  4. Nolan Gorman, 2B
  5. Brendan Donovan, LF
  6. Matt Carpenter, DH
  7. Brandon Crawford, 3B
  8. Pedro Pages, C
  9. Michael Siani, CF

P: Andre Pallante

Giants:

  1. Brett Wisely, 2B
  2. Helio Ramos, CF
  3. Patrick Bailey, C
  4. Matt Chapman, 3B
  5. Michael Conforto, LF
  6. Jorge Soler, DH
  7. Wilmer Flores, 1B
  8. Mike Yastrzemski, RF
  9. Nick Ahmed, SS

P: Keaton Winn

How to watch MLB Rickwood Field Game

  • Start time: 7:15 p.m. ET
  • TV channel: Fox
  • Live stream: MLB.tv | Fubo

Fans can tune in to Thursday's Rickwood Field game on Fox at 7:15 p.m. ET. Joe Davis is the play-by-play announcer with John Smoltz alongside as the color commentator. Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci will be the two reporters.

Those streaming the game can watch on MLB.tv or Fubo, which offers a free trial.

Brendan OSullivan

Brendan OSullivan Photo

Brendan O'Sullivan is an editorial intern for Sporting News, joining in 2024. He previously worked at Newsday on Long Island, New York after graduating from Quinnipiac University.