Alec Burleson broke a scoreless game with a home run in the eighth inning, which proved to be the only run scored as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Texas Rangers 1-0 on Wednesday in Arlington, Texas.

Burleson’s deep ball spoiled a terrific start by Rangers starter Jon Gray (6-2). Gray, who had won his last five starts, kept St. Louis off the board before Burleson turned on a first-pitch slider low and in with two outs in the eighth.

Burleson sent a laser over the right field fence for his fifth home run of the season.

That was the only blemish for Gray. He went the distance, allowing one run on four hits with a season-high 12 strikeouts over nine innings.

The Cardinals’ pitching was even better than Gray, though, in shutting out a Rangers offense that entered as the major league’s leader in runs (386) and runs per game (6.43).

St. Louis starter Jack Flaherty threw six shutout innings, scattering three hits and five walks with eight strikeouts. Flaherty has allowed one run or fewer in each of his previous three starts.

The visitors’ bullpen delivered, too. Jordan Hicks (1-3) earned the win, working around a two-out double by Corey Seager in the seventh. Giovanny Gallegos pitched a perfect eighth and Ryan Helsley earned his seventh save with a 1-2-3 ninth.

St. Louis snapped a five-game losing streak and avoided being swept.

For Texas, its five-game winning streak came to an end. So did Marcus Semien’s 25-game hitting streak, as he finished 0-for-4 with one strikeout.

The Rangers and Cardinals both finished with four hits. Cardinals slugger Nolan Arenado had two of his team’s four hits, although Burleson’s blast became the story of the game.

Texas and St. Louis both have off days on Thursday.

–Field Level Media