O’Neill hits three-run blast as Cardinals defeat Astros 8-5

Tyler O’Neill hit a tiebreaking three-run homer as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Houston Astros 8-5 in Grapefruit League action on Sunday.

O’Neill hit an opposite-field blast, his first of the spring, off Jojanse Torres in the seventh inning to break a 2-2 tie. The Cardinals had tied the game one batter earlier when Dylan Carlson drove in Edmundo Sosa with a single to right field.

St. Louis got on the board in the sixth, when a miscommunication among Houston’s first baseman, second baseman, center fielder and right fielder enabled Paul DeJong to reach first base after popping up into shallow right field. It seemed as if Tommy Edman would be caught in a force play at second base, but second baseman Grae Kessinger bounced a throw to shortstop Aledmys Díaz, allowing Edman to reach safely and giving Lane Thomas enough time to score from second.

After Astros reliever Riley Ferrell walked three straight batters to begin the eighth inning, Austin Dean cleared the bases with a three-run double to pad St. Louis’ lead. The Cardinals may have inflicted further damage in the eighth, but Houston took advantage of the 2021 spring training rule allowing teams to end an inning at any point once a pitcher has thrown at least 20 pitches, cutting the frame short without having recorded an out after Ferrell issued a walk to Max Moroff.

Adam Wainwright started for the Cardinals and threw three strong innings, allowing one earned run on just one hit and no walks while striking out five. Wainwright allowed his lone baserunner when José Altuve tripled on a ball that was misplayed by right fielder Dylan Carlson in the first inning. Altuve scored on a Michael Brantley sacrifice fly.

Pitching prospect Matthew Liberatore followed Wainwright and struggled with his command over 1 2/3 frames, allowing one earned run on two hits and three walks. Right-handers Tommy Parsons and Jake Woodford combined for 3 2/3 scoreless innings of relief before Seth Elledge struggled to start the ninth, giving up three earned runs on a hit and three walks while recording just one out. Jesus Cruz came on to finish the ninth, issuing a walk and striking out one over 2/3 of an inning.

Kwang Hyun Kim will make his second start of the spring as the Cardinals face the Marlins on Monday at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.