The first half of Sunday’s game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros was a pitcher’s duel. The second half of the game not so much as the Cardinals bats woke up in the 5th inning against the Houston Astros in the weekend series, but it would be extra innings heroics by Masyn Winn that would give them a series sweep.
Matthew Liberatore had a stellar start only allowing the Astros 3 hits and 1 earned run due to a bizarre sequence in the bottom of the 3rd inning when Trammell tripled off
of the right field wall after his backswing hit Pedro Pagés in the side of the head. After he looked back to check on Pagés, he began to circle the bases when Jordan Walker overthrew the cutoff man and missed third base trying to throw out Trammell, but Nathan Church alertly backed up the throw preventing Trammell from scoring. He would score on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Correa to short center field when Victor Scott II’s throw hit the pitcher’s mound giving the Astros a 1-0 lead. Liberatore would end up throwing 6 innings for St. Louis Sunday.
Mike Burrows had a perfect game two outs into the 5th inning for the Houston Astros, but a hit by Masyn Winn broke that up and seemingly caused Burrows to lose his control. Nathan Church walked after Winn’s single. Pedro Pagés beat out an infield single (yes, you read that right) which loaded the bases for Victor Scott II. Burrows walked him to tie the game 1-1 which brought up JJ Wetherholt who slammed a single to right field scoring both Church and Pagés. Pedro looked like he stepped on a slick patch of ice crossing home plate.
Iván Herrera followed Wetherholt’s RBI single with one of his own to score Victor Scott II.
Nolan Gorman showed Arenado tendencies in the bottom of the 5th inning when he absolutely robbed Alvarez of a hit. For what it’s worth, Gorman’s defense has been much better than Arenado’s in 2026 so far.
Ryan Stanek was brought in to relieve Liberatore in the 7th inning. He was helped by an excellent diving catch by Nathan Church. JoJo Romero entered the game in the bottom of the 8th inning. He got the first two outs, but gave up a long home run to Alvarez to draw the Astros closer at 4-2. Altuve followed that with a hard hit single to left field. After that, Walker walked which inspired manager Oli Marmol to bring in closer Riley O’Brien. After a wild pitch that moved both runners up a base, he was greeted by Paredes who smacked a single to right-center field to tie the game 4-4. He was able to get out of the 8th inning by picking Paredes off first.
The Cardinals mounted a threat in the top of the 9th inning when José Fermín doubled into the left-center field gap. Pedro Pagés was unable to move him over to 3rd base when he missed a bunt attempt and then struck out. Yohel Pozo pinch-hit for Victor Scott II. He did move Fermín to third base by grounding out to 2nd base. That brought up JJ Wetherholt who was hit by a pitch for the 4th straight game tying a record held by current Cardinals coach Jon Jay. Ivan Herrera grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the Cardinals 9th inning.
Riley O’Brien held the Astros scoreless through the bottom of the 9th inning sending the game into extras. Ivan Herrera was the designated runner in the top of the 10th inning. Alec Burleson was unable to move him over when he flew out to short centerfield. Jordan Walker reached on an error by third baseman Matthews. Ramón Urías then pinch-hit for Nolan Gorman who was 0-4 in the game. He was hit in the foot by a pitch which loaded the bases for Texas native Masyn Winn. He cleared the bases with a screaming double into the left field corner making it 7-4 Cardinals.
Justin Bruihl was brought in to handle the bottom of the 10th inning. His time would not be without drama as Trammell reached on a dribble infield single. That brought up Carlos Correa as the tying run. His tapper back to Bruihl would result in Matthews being tagged out in a rundown between third and home for the first out. Alvarez lined out to Winn at short for the second out. Gordon Graceffo was then brought in to get the last out. Altuve managed to get a two-strike infield single that was kept from going into the outfield by Winn. Christian Walker came up as the potential winning run, but Graceffo was able to get him out on a fielder’s choice by Urias.
The Cardinals will move on to Miami for a 3-game series versus the Marlins. Michael McGreevy is scheduled to start for the Cardinals for a 5:40pm start Monday night.
