Sports · Baseball · published 2026-08-26 · via Sports Illustrated

Orioles Rout Cardinals 13-1 to Open Road Trip

Baltimore scored four runs in the third inning and eight in the fifth to crush St. Louis 13-1 at Busch Stadium. Jackson Holliday reached base four times, while Pete Alonso homered and drove in four runs, extending his hot hitting streak. The Orioles face weak pitching on their nine-game trip and need to sustain this offensive output to stay in the wild-card race.

Expanded Detail

Holliday's homecoming carried personal weight, as he grew up watching his father Matt star at Busch Stadium. Alonso's three-run homer extended a torrid stretch, though his lingering calf issue forced an early exit as a precaution. Encarnacion-Strand also went deep, while Bassitt limited St. Louis to a solo shot.

Henderson's struggles remain a glaring concern — he has driven in just four runs all month and owns a sub-.700 OPS since the 2025 All-Star break. The Orioles face the Athletics and Rockies next, two clubs with the worst home pitching in baseball, giving Baltimore a prime window to build momentum in the wild-card chase.

Context

This blowout could provide a psychological lift for Baltimore as it navigates a long road trip, potentially stabilizing a lineup that has underperformed all season. The team's wild-card hopes may hinge on sustaining

Expanded detail and Context are AI-generated analysis; the linked article remains the authoritative source.

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This summary is Al-enhanced to contain extended analysis and broader social context. The original is {NAME); the linked article is the authoritative source. Original headline: “Orioles Bats Explode In Blowout Of Cardinals To Open 9-Game Road Swing.” Browse more stories.