Iván Herrera’s two-run single fueled a four-run fifth, while JJ Wetherholt contributed to the late push as St. Louis beat Detroit 5-3 on Sunday.

DETROIT — Sunday’s Game Report: Cardinals 5, Tigers 3

The Cardinals have had some inconsistent performances out of their relievers to begin this season, but Jo Jo Romero has been as reliable as ever.

That was the case again on Sunday night when the Cardinals called on Romero earlier than usual, this time in the sixth inning, with the game in Detroit on the line.

The Cardinals were clinging to a 4-3 lead and the Tigers had runners on first and second with one out and the top of their lineup coming up to bat.

Romero got a ground ball that forced the runner at second base, then after a walk, got another ground out to end the inning and the threat.

Romero stayed in to pitch the seventh and retired the side in order and help carry the Cardinals to their only win in the three-game series.

It was Romero’s fifth appearance in the Cardinals first nine games and he has not allowed a run in a combined 5 2/3 innings.

Here is how Sunday night’s game broke down:

At the plate: The Cardinals had only one hit through the first four innings off Keider Montero, who got the start for Detroit when Justin Verlander went on the IL on Saturday. In the fifth, however, a leadoff single by Nolan Gorman started what turned out to be a four-run inning that included an RBI single by Pedro Pages, a sacrifice bunt by Victor Scott II, which was thrown away down the right field line, and a two-run single by Ivan Herrera … A sacrifice fly from Gorman added an insurance run in the eighth … After a hot start to the season, Nathan Church saw his hitless streak extended to 22 at-bats with an 0-of-4 night.

On the mound: Kyle Leahy worked the first five innings with only one mistake, a two-run homer from Kerry Carpenter in the third … George Soriano retired only one of the four batters he faced in the sixth, allowing the tird Detroit run, before Romero got out of the jam … Ryne Stanek worked around a one-out walk in the eighth and Riley O’Brien got the save with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Key stat: The Cardinals came into the game with their fifth through ninth-place hitters riding a streak of a combined 42 at-bats without a hit. The group collected three hits and drove in three runs in the victory.

Worth noting: Masyn Winn was out of the lineup for the second consecutive game … In a roster move announced before the game, the Cardinals optioned reliever Chris Roycroft to Memphis and purchased the contract of left-hander Jared Shuster, who had been scheduled to start for the Triple A team on Sunday. To open a spot on the 40-man roster, Nick Raquet, pitching at Memphis, was designated for assignment … The Cardinals’ Double A team in Springfield began its season with a grand slam in each of their first three games, the first two coming off the bat of Dakota Harris.

Up next: The first road trip of the season continues on Monday night with the first of three games against the Nationals in Washington. Andre Pallante is the scheduled starter.