ST. LOUIS, MO – April 14, 2025 – The Houston Astros began their road series against the St. Louis Cardinals with a 8-3 loss last night at Busch Stadium. Cardinals starter Sonny Gray delivered a stellar performance, shutting down the Astros’ offense for most of the game.
Sonny Gray (3-0) earned the win for the Cardinals, pitching seven strong innings, allowing just three hits and no runs while striking out four. Astros starter Framber Valdez (1-2) struggled, surrendering seven runs (six earned) on ten hits over just four innings, taking the loss.
The Cardinals’ offense broke the game open in the middle innings. After scoring their first run in the third inning on an RBI fielder’s choice from Willson Contreras, they exploded for three runs in both the fourth and fifth innings. Pedro Pagés hit a crucial two-run double in the fourth, and Lars Nootbaar added an RBI single. In the fifth, Nolan Arenado and Brendan Donovan each contributed RBI doubles, helping to build a commanding lead. Arenado finished the night 3-for-4 with two doubles, a solo home run in the seventh (his second of the season), and two RBIs. Donovan also had an exceptional game, going 4-for-4 with an RBI, extending his hitting streak to 10 games.
The Astros’ offense was stifled by Gray, managing only three hits through eight innings. Their only runs came in the top of the ninth when Jeremy Peña launched a three-run home run, his third of the season. However, this rally was far too late to change the outcome.
The loss drops the Astros’ record to 7-9 on the season as they look to even the series in St. Louis.
