The Houston Astros were swept in St. Louis on Thursday, 13-5. The Astros offense did show some life, plating five runs, or half the team's offensive total in the previous six games, but Houston pitching could only hold the Cardinals offense in check so long.
The Astros generated all five runs in the first five innings against Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook. Ben Francisco knocked in a run on a first inning single, Dallas Keuchel hit a sacrifice fly and Jose Altuve singled in a run in the second, and Altuve drove in another run with a sac fly in the fourth.
The Cardinals' David Freese hit a three-run homer off starter Dallas Keuchel in the bottom of the fourth to cut the Houston lead to 4-3. Houston third baseman Scott Moore drove in Francisco on another sac fly in the fifth. St. Louis responded with a five-run fifth, chasing Keuchel before he could record an out in the inning. Matt Holliday had a 3-run double and ended the day with four RBIs. The Cardinals added one more run in the sixth on an Allen Craig double. St. Louis put four more on the board in the eighth to complete the rout.
Westbrook was credited with the win to move to 13-9 on the year. Keuchel took the loss to fall to 1-6 on the year, as Houston's record on the road dropped to 12-51.
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