Colby Rasmus went 3-for-3 with a stolen base and two runs scored, and Kyle Lohse threw three solid innings in his first start of the spring, after spending three months on the disabled list last year, to lead the Cardinals past the Houston Astros, 10-2.
Lohse allowed three hits and one run while striking out two. He threw 41 pitches, including 30 for strikes.
The Cardinals jumped on Astros starter Ryan Rowland-Smith for three runs in the second, rallying after there were two outs. Matt Carpenter had a two-run triple and scored. Allen Craig and Skip Schumaker add RBI singles in the third inning to make it 5-1.
Craig also had two hits and two RBIs. The Cardinals take on the Astros again on Saturday at the Cardinals’ training complex.