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Valbuena has 3 RBIs to lead Astros over Cardinals 6-3

Sports

March 4th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

KISSIMMEE, Florida (AP) — Luis Valbuena hit a two-run homer in the first inning and finished with three RBIs to lead the Houston Astros over the St. Louis Cardinals 6-3 in an exhibition game on Friday.

Marwin Gonzalez hit a solo homer off Jaime Garcia over the left field wall with one out in the first. Garcia then walked last year’s American League Rookie of the Year Carlos Correa on four pitches before Valbuena launched the first pitch over the right field wall to make it 3-0.

The Cardinals scored two in the fourth to cut the lead to 3-2, but Preston Tucker’s home run in the bottom of the inning extended the lead back to 2. Jose Altuve added an RBI double in the fifth and Valbuena padded the lead with a run-scoring single later in the inning.