Photos: Cardinals shut down Astros for eight innings before winning 8-3
The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals opened an 8-0 lead against the Houston Astros before Jeremy Peña hit a three-run home run in the ninth inning at Busch Stadium on Monday, April 14, 2025. The Cardinals won the game 8-3.
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker runs down a fly ball hit by Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve in the third inning at Busch Stadium on Monday, April 14, 2025.
A breathless ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals Willson Contreras is welcomed to the dugout with water after scoring on a Nolan Arenado double in the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at Busch Stadium on Monday, April 14, 2025.
Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado celebrates his solo home run in the seventh inning against the Astros alongside teammates Lars Nootbaar, left, and Pedro Pages on Monday, April 14, 2025, at Busch Stadium.
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals Pedro Pages hits a double in the fourth inning against the Houston Astros, scoring Brendan Donovan, right, and Jordan Walker at Busch Stadium on Monday, April 14, 2025.
Cardinals utility man Brendan Donovan celebrates with a “safe†sign after hitting a stand-up triple to score Nolan Arenado in the fifth inning against the Astros on Monday, April 14, 2025, at Busch Stadium.
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray is greeted by catcher Pedro Pages after a strikeout of Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros to end the first inning at Busch Stadium on Monday, April 14, 2025.
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray works the first inning against the Houston Astros at Busch Stadium on Monday, April 14, 2025.
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray works the first inning against the Houston Astros at Busch Stadium on Monday, April 14, 2025.
Cardinals utility man Brendan Donovan runs on a single hit in the fourth inning of a game against the Astros on Monday, April 14, 2025, at Busch Stadium.
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals pitcher Roddery Muñoz works the ninth inning against the Houston Astros at Busch Stadium on Monday, April 14, 2025.
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals Nolan Arenado hits a solo home run in the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Busch Stadium on Monday, April 14, 2025.
Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros jokes with ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals’ Willson Contreras while on first base in the sixth inning at Busch Stadium on Monday, April 14, 2025.
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray watches a fly ball hit in the third inning against the Houston Astros at Busch Stadium on Monday, April 14, 2025.
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado tags out Mauricio Dubón at third base off a throw from Brendan Donovan in the sixth inning at Busch Stadium on Monday, April 14, 2025.
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado looks over a sparsely-filled Busch Stadium after warmups before facing the Houston Astros on Monday, April 14, 2025.
Robert Cohen
Staff Photographer
Sonny Gray's seven shutout innings paired with Arenado's three extra-base hits bring Cardinals to 8-3 victory against visiting Astros, who tried to trade for third baseman.
Cardinals thump Houston lefty Framber Valdez for seven runs on 10 hits, and in four consecutive wins, they've outlasted aces with a strong offensive approach.