St. Louis Cardinals smash Houston Astros with 6-1 win – MLB News
Lance Lynn pitched seven strong innings on Monday, September 24, backed by the blitzing offence to help the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Houston Astros 6-1 at Minute Maid Park. The Cardinals outdid their rivals and further strengthening their grip on the Wild Card race.
Strained right oblique forced Houston Astros' starter Fernando Abad to exit early after he pitched just over one inning. Replacing him, the relievers could not quite do their bid and fell victim to the Cardinals' batters who in a strong position.
It was Daniel Descalso who made an early start for the Cardinals, scoring a two-out RBI triple to make it 1-0 in the second inning. As Abad left after injury, Pete Kozma hit a massive two-run homer to left against Fernando Rodriguez, tripling the Cardinals' lead.
Scott Moore was the only Houston Astros' batter to try and bring the Cardinals lead down to 3-1 in the second inning when he scored an RBI single. However, Lynn then came down hard on the Astros' hitters, keeping them at bay, bolstered by a stellar Cardinals' offence.
Yadier Molina, who had back tightness, appeared ever stronger, hitting a solo homer to left against Rodriguez to make it 4-1 for the Cardinals.
Molina’s strong show impressed everyone and in particular the team manager.
"Anytime you know Yadi came out of a game, you hold your breath," Matheny said. "Then you realize the next day he can't go and play, it's usually something that has your attention for sure. It's amazing how quick he rebounds. The put him through the ringer [of tests] today and he came out with flying colors."
Matt Holliday then went ahead with a two-run single in the seventh to further solidify the Cardinals position in the game, taking the lead to 6-1. With the lead, reliever Sam Freeman pitched a scoreless and hitless eighth.
Young relief pitcher Trevor Rosenthal, coming as a closer in the ninth, pitched an impressive scoreless inning with a strike-out to end the game with a decisive 6-1 victory and giving the Cardinals a three and a half game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central Division.
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