Cardinals 8, Astros 3

Framber Valdez Photo by Scott Kane/Getty Images The Astros lost to St. Louis by five runs...

but it wasn’t really that close.

The Cardinals touched up on Framber Valdez (1-2, 4.50) for seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits and a walk in four innings. His GameScore of 18 was his lowest since May 20 (when he racked up a 17 in a 9-7 loss to the Los Angeles Angels).

The Cardinals doubled up on Houston with 14 hits to only seven for the Astros, and two of Houston’s were in the final inning, staring at an eight-run deficit. Jeremy Peña’s (3) two-out, three-run ninth-inning home run was the only offense the Astros could muster. Mauricio Dubón had the only multiple-hit game, with a single and a double…