ST. LOUIS (AP) — Nolan Arenado homered and Brendan Donovan went 4 for 4, helping Sonny Gray and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Houston Astros 8-3 on Monday night.
Arenado also doubled twice and scored two runs in the opener of a three-game series. Donovan extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
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St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Monday, April 14, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, April 14, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Houston Astros' Chas McCormick (20) is caught stealing second as St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Nolan Gorman, left, places the tag during the third inning of a baseball game Monday, April 14, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Cardinals' Jordan Walker (18) is congratulated by teammates Brendan Donovan (33) and Victor Scott II (11) after scoring during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Monday, April 14, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Arenado hits an RBI double during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Monday, April 14, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Cardinals' Willson Contreras, left, as Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz leaps for the throw during the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, April 14, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Arenado watches his solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Monday, April 14, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Arenado, right, celebrates as he arrives home after hitting a solo home run as Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz stands by during the seventh inning of a baseball game Monday, April 14, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Arenado rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Monday, April 14, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Houston Astros' Jeremy Pena watches his three-run home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, April 14, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Gray (3-0) pitched seven scoreless innings. He allowed three hits, struck out four and walked one.
The Cardinals have won Gray's last eight home starts dating to last season.
Astros left-hander Framber Valdez (1-2) was tagged for seven runs — six earned — in four-plus innings. Five of the 10 hits he allowed were doubles.
Arenado hit a solo drive off Luis Contreras in the eighth. It was his second homer of the season.
The Cardinals broke it open with three runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth.
Pedro Pagés hit a two-run double to make it 3-0 in the fourth. Nolan Gorman's sacrifice fly extended the lead to 7-0 in the fifth.
Donovan scored twice and drove in a run. He is batting an NL-high .391.
Houston's Jeremy Peña hit a three-run homer off Roddery Muñoz with two outs in the ninth.
Arenado drove in the first run in the fifth. He fouled off four straight offerings in a 10-pitch at-bat before ripping an RBI double to left.
Gray set the tone when he retired Jose Altuve, Isaac Paredes and Yordan Alvarez in order in the first inning. The Astros’ only hit off Gray through five was catcher Yainer Diaz’s infield single in the second.
Astros right-hander Hunter Brown (1-1, 2.00 ERA) starts on Tuesday night. Right-hander Erick Fedde (1-1, 4.50 ERA) makes his fourth start for the Cardinals.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Monday, April 14, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, April 14, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Houston Astros' Chas McCormick (20) is caught stealing second as St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Nolan Gorman, left, places the tag during the third inning of a baseball game Monday, April 14, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Cardinals' Jordan Walker (18) is congratulated by teammates Brendan Donovan (33) and Victor Scott II (11) after scoring during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Monday, April 14, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Arenado hits an RBI double during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Monday, April 14, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Cardinals' Willson Contreras, left, as Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz leaps for the throw during the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, April 14, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Arenado watches his solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Monday, April 14, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Arenado, right, celebrates as he arrives home after hitting a solo home run as Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz stands by during the seventh inning of a baseball game Monday, April 14, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Arenado rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Monday, April 14, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Houston Astros' Jeremy Pena watches his three-run home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, April 14, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
