HOUSTON (AP) — Nolan Gorman hit a three-run home run and Iván Herrera added a two-run shot to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 9-4 victory over the Houston Astros on Friday night.
The Cardinals led by a run with one out in the seventh when Alec Burleson doubled off Bryan Abreu, and Jordan Walker walked. Gorman sent a fastball from Abreu into the seats in right field to make it 7-3.
Herrera, who had three RBIs, connected off J.P. France with two outs in the eighth.
Masyn Winn drove in two runs and Walker extended his hitting streak to 12 games for the Cardinals, who extended their winning streak to three games.
Christian Vázquez, Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve all hit solo homers for Houston, but the Astros weren't able to get much else going offensively as they lost for the 10th time in 12 games.
The home run by Alvarez is his eighth this season, moving him into a tie for most in the majors with Walker and Aaron Judge.
St. Louis starter Kyle Leahy (2-2) yielded five hits and three runs with a season-high six strikeouts in five innings.
Houston’s Peter Lambert (0-1) allowed seven hits and four runs in five innings in his first major league start this season.
Walker put the Cardinals up early with an RBI single with one out in the first inning.
St. Louis loaded the bases with no outs in the third and Lambert struck out the next two batters before Winn’s single scored two to make it 3-0.
Vázquez opened Houston’s third with his home run before the two-out shot by Alvarez cut the lead to 3-2.
Herrera hit a two-out RBI single in the fourth to extend the lead to 4-2.
Altuve’s to left field got the Astros within 1 in the fifth inning.
Houston RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (1-0, 5.87 ERA) opposes RHP Andre Pallante (1-1, 4.80) on Saturday night.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Gorman, right, celebrates with Jordan Walker (18) and Alec Burleson (41) after they all scored from a home run hit by Gorman during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Friday, April 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Iván Herrera (48) scores during the third inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Friday, April 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Houston Astros' Jose Altuve (27) celebrates in the dugout after hiting a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Houston, Friday, April 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero scored 25 points and the Orlando Magic rolled to a 35-point first-half lead, taking full control on the way to a 121-90 rout of Charlotte Hornets in a play-in tournament elimination game on Friday night.
The Magic earned the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Their reward is a matchup with top-seeded Detroit, a best-of-seven that begins Sunday on the Pistons' home floor.
The Magic were physical from the outset, and the Hornets were never in the game. Franz Wagner had 18 points for the Magic, along with seven rebounds and six assists.
Wendell Carter Jr. finished with 16 points on 6-for-7 shooting, while Desmond Bane scored 13 and Jalen Suggs added 12 for the Magic.
Orlando led by 31 at halftime, the biggest midpoint lead in the play-in tournament’s seven-year history. It has been utilized in this format — four teams qualifying from each conference, playing to decide the final two playoff spots on each half of the bracket — since 2021.
LaMelo Ball — who the NBA said should have been ejected from Tuesday’s season-extending win over Miami for an uncalled flagrant foul against Bam Adebayo -- led the Hornets with 23 points, 21 of them coming in the third quarter.
But the game was long decided at that point. Orlando raced out to a 27-10 lead, stretched it to 68-33 late in the first half, and the Hornets never even got within 20 points the rest of the way.
Miles Bridges, who has played more games than any other active player without a playoff appearance, scored 15 for the Hornets. Brandon Miller scored 14 and Kon Knueppel added 11.
The Hornets, who have now missed the playoffs in 10 straight seasons, were outrebounded 49-34 and shot only 34%. Orlando shot 50%.
The Magic were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in each of the last two postseasons and have not won a playoff round since 2010. But they went 2-2 against the Pistons this season.
The Hornets, who beat the Magic in their last three regular-season games, have not been in the playoffs since 2016. It's the longest active drought in the NBA.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black (0) drives around Charlotte Hornets guard Coby White (3) during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game, Friday, April 17, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) drives around Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game, Friday, April 17, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Orlando Magic forward Jamal Cain, left, celebrates a big play against the Charlotte Hornets with forward Franz Wagner (22) during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game, Friday, April 17, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) shoots over Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate, left, during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game, Friday, April 17, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, right, goes to the basket against Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva (23) during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game, Friday, April 17, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
