Struggling Cardinals suffer a double loss

The St. Louis Cardinals absorbed another big hit, the news they’d be without ace pitcher Chris Carpenter for at least three more months, while getting routed by the Houston Astros.

Matt Albers blanked the Cardinals on three singles into the eighth inning for his first major league victory and fellow rookie Hunter Pence hit a grand slam for his first career homer in the Astros’ 13-0 victory Saturday.

“He really set the tone,” second baseman Mark Loretta said of the 24-year-old right-hander. “He was mowing them down. They were taking some swings you don’t usually see them take.”

The defending World Series champions, in last place in the Central Division, have lost six of seven. They gave up six or more runs for the 12th time in their first 28 games and were shut out for the fourth time.

During the game the team announced that Carpenter would undergo arthroscopic elbow surgery Tuesday, a procedure that will sideline him at least three months.

“When he was making progress, it was exciting, the impact he would make on our club,” Manager Tony La Russa said. “It’s a tough break, but it’s not a break that beats you, not unless you allow it to.”