Jedd Gyorko launched a three-run homer during a four-run sixth inning that broke a 4-4 tie to help lead the Cardinals past the Astros 8-5 at Minute Maid Park.
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After the Redbirds, jumped out to a 2-0 lead, starter Jaime Garcia struggled giving up five runs in five innings.
“When he gets going, he’s unbelievable, ” manager Mike Matheny said. “I’m happy with the fact that we’re spreading the wealth”. “You just don’t know when he’s going to hit you”.
“All the way through our lineup we’ve got the ability with the long ball and that’s a nice attribute for an offense to have”.
Cardinals: Carlos Martinez (10-7, 3.34) will try to get his first win in four starts. St. Louis is 62-56 this season and hold a one game edge on the Astros heading into tonight’s game and while they aren’t even playing in the same league there is still bragging rights on the line as both teams aim for the postseason.
Martinez leads the NL with 25 double plays induced and 1.64 double plays per nine innings.
Keuchel pointed to slow first-inning starts as a trend in his recent string of outings. He has a 7.36 ERA across his first two August starts after entering the month with a 2.99 ERA on the season.
Right-hander Doug Fister (11-7, 3.61 ERA) will start for the Astros (61-58).
St. Louis Cardinals Tommy Pham gets a faceful of water from Michael Wacha after hitting a two run home run in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on July 24, 2016.
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After limiting the damage to two runs in the fifth, Keuchel issued a walk to Matt Carpenter and allowed a single to Moss before being lifted for Pat Neshek, who failed to provide relief by surrendering a three-run homer to Gyorko, his 18th of the season. The reigning AL Cy Young Award victor allowed six runs and six hits in five innings Tuesday after allowing seven runs in five innings in Detroit on July 31, matching his season high for runs allowed. Houston erased a 2-0 first-inning deficit with Bregman’s homer, a solo homer from Marwin Gonzalez and an RBI single from Jose Altuve.
“I feel right now like I don’t want to stop”, Altuve said.
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Keuchel (7-12) had his second rough start in the last two weeks.
