MLB Final Intelligence
Houston Astros vs St. Louis Cardinals โ Recap
February 26, 2026 ยท Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium ยท View Preview
Game Recap
The St. Louis Cardinals pulled away from the Houston Astros with a dominant late-game offensive surge, ultimately securing a 9-4 victory. A decisive four-run outburst in the seventh inning propelled the Cardinals to a comfortable lead, capping a strong performance that saw them outscore their opponents by a significant margin.
Throughout the contest, St. Louis consistently generated offense, building towards its late-game separation. The Astros managed to put four runs on the board themselves, but they were unable to match the Cardinals' offensive firepower. Alec Burleson provided a crucial boost for St. Louis with a solo home run and three runs batted in, spearheading a potent lineup.
The game truly shifted in the seventh inning when the Cardinals erupted for four runs, turning a competitive affair into a commanding lead. This inning proved to be the pivotal moment, allowing St. Louis to create significant distance from Houston. On the mound, Matthew Liberatore delivered an efficient relief outing for the Cardinals, striking out three over three innings while allowing just one earned run, helping to quell any potential Astros rally.
Ultimately, the Cardinals' ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities, especially their explosive seventh inning, proved to be the difference in the ballgame. Their relentless offense ensured a decisive win over Houston. Following the victory, the St. Louis Cardinals improved their record to 65-61, while the Houston Astros fell to 63-63.
Player of the Game
Turning Point
The game turned in the 7th inning, when the St. Louis Cardinals scored 4 runs.
Pitching
| Pitcher | Team | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Liberatore |
|
3.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1.80 |
| Colton Gordon | 2.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3.00 | |
| Colton Gordon |
|
2.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3.00 |
| Peter Lambert |
|
2.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.00 |
| Jared Shuster W |
|
2.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4.50 |
| Miguel Ullola |
|
1.2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 13.50 |
| Amos Willingham L |
|
1.1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 15.43 |
| Christian Roa |
|
1.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4.50 |
| Gerson Moreno |
|
1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.00 |
| JoJo Romero |
|
1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4.50 |
| Nick Raquet |
|
1.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4.50 |
| Scott Blewett |
|
1.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4.50 |
Batting
| Batter | Team | AB | H | HR | RBI | R | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Gazdar |
|
2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Riley Unroe |
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bryan Torres |
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Alec Burleson |
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Jimmy Crooks |
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Yohel Pozo |
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brice Matthews |
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Jack Gurevitch |
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Ryan Weingartner |
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Patrick Sullivan |
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Walker Janek |
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Thomas Saggese |
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Victor Scott II |
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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