Pete Alonso homers and drives in 4 before leaving game as Orioles rout Cardinals 13-1

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Pete Alonso had four hits, including a three-run homer, and drove in four runs before leaving the game in the fifth inning, and the Baltimore Orioles routed the swooning St. Louis Cardinals 13-1 on Tuesday night.

Chris Bassitt (5-4) allowed one run on six hits in 6 2/3 innings, matching his longest start of the season. He struck out five and walked none as the Orioles, who are chasing an AL wild-card spot, won for the third time in four games.

The Cardinals lost their fourth straight.

Alonso, who has been dealing with a nagging calf injury, left shortly after he contributed his fourth hit, an RBI double during Baltimore's eight-run fifth that made it 12-1. He put the Orioles ahead 3-0 with his 435-foot shot in the third off Matthew Liberatore (5-12), his 31st of the season.

Jackson Holliday had three hits, scored twice and drove in a run for the Orioles in his first big league appearance in St. Louis, where his father, Matt, starred for the Cardinals. Christian Encarnacion-Strand had a pair of hits, including a 450-foot homer in the third, and drove in three. Leody Taveras had two hits, scored twice and drove in two runs.

Liberatore allowed a season-high eight runs on eight hits in four-plus innings. He struck out seven and walked one.

Nathan Church homered for the Cardinals. Alec Burleson extended his hitting streak to 11 games, the longest active streak in the National League, with a sixth-inning single.

Pedro Pagés pitched a scoreless ninth. It was the second time in the last three games that the Cardinals catcher closed out a game on the mound.

Orioles RHP Kyle Bradish (7-12, 3.70 ERA) will face Cardinals RHP Michael McGreevy (5-9, 3.54) on Wednesday night.

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Baltimore Orioles' Pete Alonso, left, is congratulated by first base coach Jason Bourgeois after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

St. Louis Cardinals' Nathan Church celebrates after hitting a solo home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Baltimore Orioles' Christian Encarnacion-Strand follows through on a two-run single during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Baltimore Orioles' Pete Alonso (25) is congratulated by teammates Leody Taveras and Jackson Holliday (7) after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Baltimore Orioles' Pete Alonso watches his three-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

NEW YORK (AP) — Yordan Alvarez went 3 for 5 and lined a go-ahead triple in the eighth inning off Brent Headrick as the Houston Astros beat the New York Yankees 9-7 on Tuesday night.

Yainer Diaz hit a pair of solo homers, including a tying shot to the short porch in right field off Headrick’s fastball to start the eighth. After Jeremy Pena singled, Alvarez ripped a low-inside sinker to the warning track in right-center for a 7-6 lead.

Alvarez increased his major league-leading batting average to .323. The slugger had his seventh career triple and first since July 21, 2024.

Pena homered off Fernando Cruz in the sixth for a 5-all tie. Daulton Varsho had two RBI singles for the Astros, who won for the sixth time in 15 games after owner Jim Crane said manager Joe Espada will finish the season.

Isaac Paredes added an RBI single off Headrick (7-3), who has allowed five homers in 68 appearances. Headrick is second in the big leagues in appearances to Toronto lefty Mason Fluharty and permitted a run for only the 12th time.

Diaz tacked on an RBI single in the ninth off rookie Bradley Hanner as the Astros scored six runs against New York’s bullpen.

Houston overcame a four-hit night by New York first baseman Luis García Jr. García hit an RBI double off Steven Okert that gave the Yankees a 6-5 lead and also launched a two-run homer in the fifth off rookie starter Ethan Packo.

It was García’s third four-hit game this season and the eighth of his career.

Bryan Abreu (5-3) allowed an RBI single to Jazz Chisholm Jr. before finishing a double play against Austin Wells with a nice grab at first base. Josh Hader got four outs for his 19th save in 19 chances.

Cody Bellinger hit a three-run homer in the third that broke a 32-game homerless drought and gave the Yankees a 3-2 lead.

Packo allowed five runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings on his 24th birthday.

New York starter Will Warren permitted three runs — two earned — and seven hits in five innings.

Astros RHP Peter Lambert (8-7, 3.68 ERA) pitches Wednesday night. The Yankees had not announced a scheduled starter.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Houston Astros' Isaac Paredes (15) runs to first base for a RBI single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Houston Astros' Yainer Diaz hits an RBI single during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees pitcher Brent Headrick, center, hands the ball to manager Aaron Boone, left, as he leaves during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Houston Astros' Yainer Diaz (21) hits a home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez (44) follows through on a RBI triple during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)