Astros Crushed by Cardinals 9-4 as Abreu Struggles Again

Bryan Abreu's pitching woes continue as Houston falls to 8-13 on the season

Apr. 18, 2026 at 3:25pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in bold, clashing colors representing a baseball game, with sharp geometric planes and shapes conveying the tension and chaos of the Astros' defeat.A cubist interpretation of the Astros' frustrating loss to the Cardinals, with the team's bullpen struggles and injuries reflected in the fragmented, angular composition.Houston Today

The Houston Astros suffered a 9-4 defeat at the hands of the St. Louis Cardinals, with reliever Bryan Abreu's struggles continuing as he allowed 3 runs in the 7th inning to effectively end the game. Starter Peter Lambert gave the Astros a decent outing, but the bullpen could not hold the lead. The Astros also lost outfielders Joey Loperfido and Isaac Paredes to injuries during the game.

Why it matters

The Astros' poor start to the season has them tied for last place in the AL West, 3.5 games behind the division-leading Texas Rangers. Abreu's continued struggles out of the bullpen are a major concern, as the team looks to get back on track and defend their division title.

The details

Abreu entered the game in the 7th inning with the Astros down 4-3, but he quickly allowed 3 more runs, including a 3-run home run to Nolan Gorman. Abreu's velocity has been down this season, averaging 95.4 mph compared to 97.3 mph last year, and his command has been an issue as well, walking 13 batters in 7.1 innings. Starter Peter Lambert gave the Astros 5 solid innings, allowing 4 runs on 7 hits with 8 strikeouts. Christian Vazquez and Yordan Alvarez hit solo home runs to keep the Astros in the game early, but the bullpen could not hold the lead.

  • Abreu entered the game in the 7th inning with the Astros down 4-3.
  • Loperfido left the game in the 6th inning due to right quad tightness.
  • Paredes left the game after his 'legs weren't feeling good' following a play in the field.

The players

Bryan Abreu

A relief pitcher for the Houston Astros who has struggled with his velocity and command this season, allowing 3 runs in 1 inning of work in this game.

Nolan Gorman

A St. Louis Cardinals player who hit a 3-run home run off Abreu in the 7th inning to extend the Cardinals' lead.

Peter Lambert

The starting pitcher for the Houston Astros, who gave them 5 solid innings, allowing 4 runs on 7 hits with 8 strikeouts.

Christian Vazquez

An Astros player who hit a solo home run in the 3rd inning to get the Astros on the board.

Yordan Alvarez

An Astros player who hit a solo home run in the 3rd inning, his 8th of the season.

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What’s next

The Astros will look to bounce back in the series finale against the Cardinals on Wednesday, as they try to get their season back on track and close the gap in the AL West standings.

The takeaway

The Astros' struggles continue as their bullpen woes, led by Bryan Abreu's inconsistent performance, have contributed to their poor start. The team will need to find solutions in the bullpen and get healthy if they hope to defend their division title this season.