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The Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals are two of the most storied franchises in Major League Baseball. They have both won multiple championships and have had some of the game’s greatest players wear their uniforms over the years. In this matchup, the Astros and the Cardinals go head-to-head in a battle of two talented teams.
THU,MARCH 16
The Houston Astros have had a strong start to the 2022 season, sitting atop the American League West division with a record of 14-6. They are led by a potent offense that features stars such as Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, and Carlos Correa. The Astros’ pitching staff is also impressive, with a rotation anchored by Cy Young winner Justin Verlander and young phenom Luis Garcia.
The St. Louis Cardinals, on the other hand, have struggled out of the gate in 2022. They are currently sitting in fourth place in the National League Central division with a record of 8-12. The Cardinals’ offense has been inconsistent, but they have a solid pitching staff led by ace Jack Flaherty.
The matchup between these two teams is intriguing because it pits two teams with different strengths against each other. The Astros have a potent offense that can put up runs in a hurry, while the Cardinals rely more on their pitching staff to keep games close.
In the first game of the series, the Astros sent Luis Garcia to the mound, while the Cardinals countered with Adam Wainwright. Garcia got off to a strong start, striking out the side in the first inning. The Astros’ offense gave him an early lead, scoring two runs in the first inning on RBI singles by Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker.
The Cardinals got a run back in the second inning on a solo home run by Nolan Arenado, but that would be all they could muster against Garcia. The Astros’ offense continued to pour it on, scoring five runs in the fourth inning to blow the game open. The highlight of the inning was a three-run homer by Yordan Alvarez, his fifth of the season.
The Cardinals made things interesting in the ninth inning, scoring three runs off Astros closer Ryan Pressly. But Pressly was able to close out the game and secure the win for the Astros. Garcia was dominant, allowing only one run on four hits while striking out nine over six innings.
In the second game of the series, the Cardinals looked to bounce back with Jack Flaherty on the mound. The Astros countered with Zack Greinke, who was looking to rebound after a tough start to the season.
The game was a pitcher’s duel early on, with both teams struggling to put runs on the board. The Cardinals struck first in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Dylan Carlson, but the Astros tied it up in the sixth inning on an RBI double by Yuli Gurriel.
The game remained tied until the ninth inning, when the Astros’ offense exploded for five runs. The highlight of the inning was a three-run homer by Jose Altuve, his fifth of the season. The Cardinals were unable to mount a comeback in the bottom of the ninth, and the Astros secured the series win.
The Astros’ offense was the difference in the series, as they scored 14 runs over the two games. The Cardinals’ pitching staff struggled to keep the Astros’ potent lineup in check, and their offense was unable to match Houston’s production.
Overall, the series was a statement by the Astros, who showed that they are one of the top teams in the American League. The Cardinals, on the other hand, have some work to do if they want to climb back into contention in the National League Central.
