A pair of home runs were too much for the Houston Astros to overcome, as the St. Louis Cardinals blanked the Astros 5-0 on Wednesday night in St. Louis.
Astros starter Lucas Harrell (10-10) pitched 5⅔ innings, striking out seven and giving up five hits. Unfortunately for Houston, two of those hits were home runs. David Freese hit a two-run homer in the second inning off Harrell, while catcher Yadier Molina added a solo shot in the fourth inning. St. Louis later added two runs in the eighth off of Houston relievers.
Lance Lynn (16-7) picked up the win for the Cardinals, surrendering just three hits in 6⅓ innings of work. St. Louis relievers Edward Mujica, Mitchell Boggs, and Joe Kelly gave up just two hits to the Astros the rest of the way.
The Astros (48-101) finish the road series against St. Louis (79-70) Thursday in an afternoon start. Bud Norris (5-12, 4.93 ERA) is slated to start for Houston, but is questionable as of now with flu-like symptoms. Jaime Garcia (4-7, 4.24) will start for the Cardinals.
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