Astros vs Cardinals: Key Moments and Final Score Breakdown

On April 14, 2025, the Houston Astros faced off against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. The Cardinals emerged victorious with a commanding 8-3 win, showcasing both offensive prowess and defensive resilience.​

Game Overview

The matchup saw Astros’ left-handed pitcher Framber Valdez on the mound, while the Cardinals countered with right-hander Sonny Gray. Valdez’s outing was challenging, as he allowed seven runs (six earned) on ten hits and one walk over four innings, marking his worst performance since May 2024 with a GameScore of 18.

Offensively, the Cardinals were relentless, accumulating 14 hits throughout the game. In contrast, the Astros managed only seven hits, with two coming in the final inning. Jeremy Peña’s three-run home run in the ninth inning was the highlight for Houston, bringing the team’s total to three runs for the game. ​

Key Moments

• First Inning: The Cardinals set the tone early with a two-run homer by Alec Burleson, giving them an early 2-0 lead.​
• Second Inning: Jeremy Peña responded for the Astros with a solo home run, narrowing the gap to 2-1.
• Third Inning: The Cardinals extended their lead with a two-run homer by Nolan Gorman, followed by an RBI single from Paul Goldschmidt, making it 5-1.​
• Ninth Inning: Jeremy Peña’s three-run homer brought the Astros closer, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit.

Pitching Performances

• Framber Valdez (HOU): 4 IP, 10 H, 7 R (6 ER), 1 BB, 3 K​
• Sonny Gray (STL): 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 6 K​

While Valdez struggled, the Cardinals’ bullpen remained effective, with multiple relievers contributing scoreless innings.​

Looking Ahead

Despite the loss, the Astros have two more games in the series to turn things around. Upcoming pitchers include Hunter Brown and Ronel Blanco for Houston, facing Erick Fedde and Steven Matz of St. Louis, respectively.

The Astros will need to address their pitching inconsistencies and capitalize on offensive opportunities to even the series.

For more updates and in-depth analysis, stay tuned to SpyNews Online.​