Sluggish Cards Fall to Astros

Call it a hangover. With a noon start after a night of celebrating their Central division title, the Cardinals started slow and couldn’t catch the Astros, losing 7-5. Richard Hidalgo continued to tear up Cardinal pitching, hitting his 42nd home run, and his ninth of the year against the Cards. Andy Benes made his first start since coming off the disabled list a couple weeks ago, and it didn’t go well. Benes allowed five runs on five hits in five innings, and fell to 10-9. He may be the odd man out in the Cards’ post-season rotation. The Cardinals travel to Chicago for three games, then to San Diego for three, before finishing the regular season next weekend at home against the Reds.