The Houston Astros earned a 10-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on Monday in spring training action. Joey Loperfido paced the offense, going 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. Cristian Javier worked 1.2 innings on the mound, allowing 1 earned run on 1 hit. The Astros finished with 14 hits on the day while holding the Cardinals to 5. It was an encouraging performance for the Astros as they continue sharpening the roster for the regular season. Games like these serve as a valuable measuring stick for where the team stands heading into the campaign.
Key Performers
Joey Loperfido was the standout at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. The long ball provided a major boost to the offensive attack. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Astros offense.
Taylor Trammell added to the attack, going 1-for-3 with a triple and two RBI, James Nelson provided support, going 1-for-2 with a double and two RBI, and Lucas Spence also contributed, going 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI. It was a balanced attack that kept the pressure on from the first pitch to the last.
On the other side of the diamond, Nelson Velázquez led the Cardinals offense with a 2-for-3 with an RBI day. Nathan Church also contributed, going 1-for-2 with an RBI. Luis Pino added a 1-for-2 effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Astros pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Cristian Javier got the start, having a rough go of it, working 1.2 innings while allowing 1 earned run on 1 hit with three strikeouts. He threw 52 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen combined for 7.1 innings of work, allowing 1 earned run while striking out ten. The relief corps did its job in protecting the lead after the starter departed. Managing the bullpen workload is a key priority during the spring, and every outing helps the coaching staff gauge who is ready for high-leverage situations.
Among the relievers, Peter Lambert stood out with 3.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out two. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
Cardinals got on the board first with two runs in the second inning. The Astros responded with a run in the third. The Astros pushed across four runs in the fourth. Cardinals struck back with a run in the seventh. The Astros answered with a run in the seventh. The Astros tacked on four runs in the eighth. The Astros spread their scoring across four different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. The Astros out-hit Cardinals 14-5 on the day, with 1 error committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 2,413 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was a productive day for the Astros, who continue to put the pieces in place ahead of the regular season. The coaching staff will take the positives from this outing and use the remaining spring games to finalize the roster. Days like this one suggest the Astros are heading in the right direction as Opening Day draws closer.
