ST. LOUIS (AP) — George Springer has become a master at setting the tone for the Houston Astros. Springer led off the game with a home run, Jose Altuve and rookie Yordan Alvarez also connected and the Astros beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-2 Sunday. Houston has won nine of 11, including two of three in this interleague matchup of division leaders.

Paul Goldschmidt’s team record-tying streak of six straight games with a home run ended for St. Louis. He singled in five at-bats. Springer hit the second pitch of the game from Dakota Hudson over the wall in left for his seventh leadoff homer of the season and the 31st of his career.

The 2017 World Series MVP is second on the Astros’ all-time leadoff home run list. Hall of Famer Craig Biggio finished his career with 53. Dexter Fowler had a pinch-hit homer in the ninth for St. Louis, which lost for the third time in 11 games. The Cardinals fell back into a tie with the Cubs atop the NL Central.
Altuve had three hits, including a three-run homer that was his 16t
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