The Houston Astros dropped a 4-1 decision to the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Wednesday in spring training play. Despite Jose Altuve's 1-for-3 effort at the plate, the Astros could not pull even when it mattered. On the mound, J.P. France turned in a solid outing, working 4.0 innings of 1-run ball with four strikeouts. The Cardinals out-hit the Astros 6-5 on the day. Despite the result, the coaching staff gathered useful data on the current state of the roster. Spring training losses sting, but the information gained will inform decisions as Opening Day approaches.
Key Performers
Jose Altuve was the standout at the plate, going 1-for-3. His steady bat was exactly what the lineup needed. Performances like this give the Astros confidence that the lineup is rounding into form.
Isaac Paredes added to the attack, going 1-for-2 with a double, Tommy Sacco Jr. provided support, going 1-for-2, and Carlos Correa also contributed, going 1-for-1. While there were individual bright spots, the lineup could not string hits together consistently.
On the other side of the diamond, Ramon Mendoza led the Cardinals offense with a 1-for-1 with a home run and two RBI day. Tai Peete also contributed, going 1-for-1 with a home run and an RBI. Brody Moore added a 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI effort as well. The Cardinals offense proved to be too much for the Astros pitching staff to contain on this particular day.
On the Mound
J.P. France got the start, delivering a strong performance, working 4.0 innings while allowing 1 earned run on 3 hits with four strikeouts. He threw 51 pitches in the outing. It was exactly the kind of outing the Astros need from their pitching staff heading into the regular season.
The bullpen combined for 4.0 innings of work, allowing 3 earned runs while striking out three. Spring training gives the coaching staff a chance to evaluate bullpen depth, and today provided useful information about the current state of the bullpen. Each reliever is auditioning for a roster spot, and innings like these factor into those decisions.
How It Happened
Cardinals got on the board first with a run in the third inning. The Astros responded with a run in the sixth. Cardinals countered with three runs in the eighth. Cardinals out-hit the Astros 6-5, with 1 error committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 4,893 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was not the outcome the Astros were looking for, but spring training provides a forgiving environment to work through the rough patches. The focus remains on preparation and development, and the coaching staff will use today as a teaching opportunity. The regular season is right around the corner, and every game is a chance to improve.
