Alonso delivers 4 hits as Orioles score biggest win of season, 13-1 over Cardinals

ST. LOUIS—Pete Alonso had a season-high four hits, including two in the eight-run fifth, as the Orioles scored their most runs of the season in a 13-1 romp over the St. Louis Cardinals before 26,877 at Busch Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Orioles (64-68) began a crucial nine-game road trip that will also take them to Sacramento and Denver to play the Athletics and Rockies with a lopsided win that featured their most productive inning of the season.

Alonso, who had two singles. a double and a home run, drove in four runs. His three-run home run, his 31^st, came in the third. Christian Encarnacion-Strand had three RBIs. Encarnacion-Strand hit a 450-foot home run, his seventh.

With the Orioles leading 4-1, they exploded for eight runs. Encarnacion-Strand and Leody Taveras had two-run singles in the fifth. Alonso had an RBI double, Jackson Holliday, who had three hits, drove in a run with a single. Coby Mayo also had an RBI single. Dylan Beavers, who had two RBIs, had a bases-loaded walk in the fifth.

“It was just consistency from everyone in the lineup today,” Alonso said. “It wasn’t just a like a couple big blows. It was just everybody. It was just quality at-bat after the quality at-bat, and it’s just really impressive by the whole group today.”

The Orioles had five players — Alonso, Holliday, Encarnacion-Strand, Beavers and Taveras — with multiple hits.

“Extremely excited,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “It was a lot of good on the offensive side of the ball, especially running the bases aggressively early. A lot of first-to-thirds. A lot of guys in motion with hits.”

Matthew Liberatore (5-12) allowed eight runs in four-plus innings.

Alonso left after the top of the fifth

“Precautionary, you know,” Albernaz said. “Game state, get him off his feet. Obviously, he was dealing with his calf, so there was no point to push him there.”

Alonso appreciated his manager’s concern.

“It’s like when games are out of hand like that, they can get they can get a little dangerous,” Alonso said. “Obviously, it’s just unclean baseball from both sides, just because seeing guys get hit … I trust what Craig does. Yeah, been in every game, so whatever he wants to do, especially in these lopsided games like this, I completely understand.”

Nathan Chuch homered against Chris Bassitt leading off the third for St. Louis’ only run. Bassitt (5-4) allowed one run on six hits in 6 2/3 innings, his first win since May 22^nd. He struck out five and walked one.

How important is Alonso? Alonso had his first four-hit game as an Oriole, and his first four-hit game on the road since September 25^th, 2022 in Oakland.

“Super sick W. For us to kind of bounce back after a loss and an offday, just kind of rebuild some momentum, huge day,” Alonso said.

He’s hitting .368 in 21 lifetime games in St. Louis.

“I love the batter’s eye,” Alonso said. “I love the batter’s box. I mean, it’s just one of those — everything for me, I just see it really well here. Yeah, I mean, thankfully I’ve had experience here in the past, coming here every year being in the National League. It’s just one of those parks where I enjoy playing.”

Alonso is hitting .276 with an .876 OPS.

How did Bassitt feel? It was Bassitt’s third start since returning from back surgery, and his 6 2/3 innings equaled a season-high.

It was the second time he didn’t walk a batter. The last time was on May 22^nd. Bassitt threw two pitches clocked at 95 mph, his first two of the season.

“I’m just happy to be talking pitching again,” Bassitt said. “I just think getting my mechanics in the right spot allows me to throw a little harder. So yeah, again, hat’s off to the training staff and rehab and all that stuff, because couldn’t have got there without them, for sure.”

St. Louis used three pitchers in the fifth when the Orioles sent 13 batters up, forcing Bassitt to stay loose.

“Thankfully, I have some years, so I understand a little bit of that,” he said. “Just some workouts in the weight room, workouts in the tunnel to stay loose, staying moving … It gets to a point where you’re kind of hoping for an out or two. But, yeah, overall, it’s always a good thing. It’s always a good problem to have.”

What does it mean? The Orioles haven’t had many lopsided wins, and other than Yennier Cano being used for the third out of the seventh, Albernaz rested his highest-leverage pitchers.

What’s the stat of the day? 13. The Orioles scored their most runs since they beat Toronto, 16-4, in the first game of a doubleheader on July 29^th 2025.

What’s the word? “Pete’s unreal. It’s awesome to watch him and talk to him when we’re in the cages about hitting. It’s great. It’s great. He’s a real team leader.”-Encarnacion-Strand on Alonso

What’s going on in the minor leagues? Cade Povich gave up two hits and struck out 11 in 5 2/3 innings as Triple-A Norfolk beat Durham, 3-1.

Blaze Alexander was hitless in three at-bats with a walk in his first rehab game since breaking his left hand on July 12^th.

Povich is 2-4 with a 5.68 ERA for Norfolk. Ryan Noda homered.

Caden Hunter allowed one run on five hits in five innings as Double-A Chesapeake beat Harrisburg, 2-1. Anderson De Los Santos homered.

In his first game for High-A Frederick, Jaiden Lo Re hit a three-run home run and drove in four runs as the Keys beat Asheville, 6-3.

Eric Booth Jr. Drove in two runs, Ty Head had three hits and Stiven Martinez hit a two-run home runs as Single-A Delmarva lost to Fredericksburg, 5-4, in 10 innings.

What’s next? The Orioles and Cardinals play again on Wednesday night at 7:45. Kyle Bradish (7-12, 3.70) and Michael McGreevy (5-9, 3.54) are the scheduled starters.

Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com