NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - SCORING UPDATE THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY HUNTER PENCE (15) TO CENTER WITH 2 OUT IN THE 9TH OFF TYLER JOHNSON SCORED JOSH ANDERSON AND CHRIS BURKE. CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 4, ST LOUIS 7 DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: B MOEHLER (.200, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: C Biggio hit for B Moehler. SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 2 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 4 ST LOUIS 7 TOP, 9TH DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C Biggio (.247, 10 HR, 48 RBI)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: R Branyan at first base. SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, C BIGGIO ON FIRST, 2 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 4 ST LOUIS 7 TOP, 9TH DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: T Wigginton (.299, 1-FOR-3)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - PITCHING CHANGE STL: JASON ISRINGHAUSEN (4-0, 2.21) IN THE 9TH SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, C BIGGIO ON FIRST, 2 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 4, ST LOUIS 7 DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: T WIGGINTON (.299, 1-FOR-3)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: J Isringhausen relieved T Johnson. SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, C BIGGIO ON FIRST, 2 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 4 ST LOUIS 7 TOP, 9TH DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: T Wigginton (.299, 1-FOR-3)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 4 8 0 ST LOUIS 0 0 0 0 2 0 5 0 x 7 20 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: HOU - MATT ALBERS, WOODY WILLIAMS (7TH), BRIAN MOEHLER (7TH) AND J.R. TOWLES STL - BRAD THOMPSON, TROY PERCIVAL (7TH), BRIAN FALKENBORG (8TH), TYLER JOHNSON (9TH), JASON ISRINGHAUSEN (9TH) AND KELLY STINNETT, GARY BENNETT (8TH) HOME RUNS: HOU - HUNTER PENCE (15) OFF TYLER JOHNSON IN THE 9TH, 2 ON STL - RICK ANKIEL (10) OFF WOODY WILLIAMS IN THE 7TH, 1 ON</div>
NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 4 8 0 ST LOUIS 0 0 0 0 2 0 5 0 x 7 20 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: HOU - MATT ALBERS, WOODY WILLIAMS (7TH), BRIAN MOEHLER (7TH) AND J.R. TOWLES STL - BRAD THOMPSON, TROY PERCIVAL (7TH), BRIAN FALKENBORG (8TH), TYLER JOHNSON (9TH), JASON ISRINGHAUSEN (9TH) AND KELLY STINNETT, GARY BENNETT (8TH) WP - BRAD THOMPSON (7-6) LP - MATT ALBERS (4-10) SAVE - JASON ISRINGHAUSEN (30) HOME RUNS: HOU - HUNTER PENCE (15) OFF TYLER JOHNSON IN THE 9TH, 2 ON STL - RICK ANKIEL (10) OFF WOODY WILLIAMS IN THE 7TH, 1 ON TIME: 2:43 ATT: 46,237 PROBABLES: HOU - ROY OSWALT (14-7, 3.29) STL - TODD WELLEMEYER (3-2, 3.59)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">HOUSTON (4) VS ST LOUIS (7) - FINAL HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Anderson cf 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 .432 C Burke 2b 4 1 2 1 0 0 1 .234 L Berkman 1b 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .274 C Lee lf 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .298 H Pence rf 3 1 1 3 1 1 0 .325 M Loretta ss 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .286 W Williams p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .102 B Moehler p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 a-C Biggio ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .249 T Wigginton 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .297 J Towles c 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 .391 M Albers p 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .074 C Ransom ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308 Totals 32 4 8 4 2 3 10 a-singled to left for B Moehler in the 9th. BATTING: 2B - J Towles (4, B Thompson). HR - H Pence (15, 9th inning off T Johnson 2 on, 2 Out). RBI - C Burke (28), H Pence 3 (63). 2-out RBI - C Burke, H Pence 3. GIDP - C Burke, J Towles. Team LOB - 3. BASERUNNING: CS - H Pence (5, 2nd base by T Percival/K Stinnett). FIELDING: DP: 3 (M Albers-J Towles-L Berkman, M Loretta-L Berkman, C Burke-C Ransom-L Berkman). ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 5 2 3 1 0 0 0 .308 R Ankiel cf 5 1 3 2 0 0 0 .277 R Ludwick rf 4 1 3 1 1 0 1 .263 S Schumaker lf 5 0 2 0 0 0 2 .322 M Cairo 1b 5 1 2 0 0 0 4 .278 J Isringhausen p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 A Miles 2b 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 .299 K Stinnett c 3 0 1 0 0 0 3 .197 b-A Pujols ph 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .322 An Reyes pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .077 G Bennett c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222 B Thompson p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .136 a-J Edmonds ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .250 J Pineiro pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .067 T Percival p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 c-S Taguchi ph 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .289 B Falkenborg p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 T Johnson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 R Branyan 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .195 B Ryan 3b 4 1 1 0 0 0 5 .301 Totals 39 7 20 7 1 1 16 a-singled to shallow right for B Thompson in the 6th; b-singled to center for K Stinnett in the 7th; c-singled to center for T Percival in the 7th. BATTING: 2B - M Cairo (2, M Albers); D Eckstein 2 (21, W Williams, M Albers); R Ludwick (20, M Albers). HR - R Ankiel (10, 7th inning off W Williams 1 on, 0 Out). S - B Thompson. RBI - D Eckstein (30), R Ludwick (47), R Ankiel 2 (33), A Pujols 2 (98), S Taguchi (25). 2-out RBI - R Ludwick. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Cairo 3, S Schumaker 1, B Ryan 2. GIDP - S Schumaker, K Stinnett, B Ryan. Team LOB - 10. BASERUNNING: SB - B Ryan (6, 2nd base off M Albers/J Towles). CS - R Ludwick (4, 2nd base by M Albers/J Towles). FIELDING: DP: 2 (B Ryan-A Miles-M Cairo 2). ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON - 000 001 003 -- 4 ST LOUIS - 000 020 50x -- 7 ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era M Albers (L, 4-10) 6 11 2 2 1 1 0 5.88 W Williams 1/3 6 5 5 0 0 1 5.27 B Moehler 1 2/3 3 0 0 0 0 0 4.29 ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era B Thompson (W, 7-6) 6 4 1 1 0 2 0 4.96 T Percival (H, 3) 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1.95 B Falkenborg 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.62 T Johnson 2/3 3 3 3 1 1 1 4.06 J Isringhausen (S, 30) 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.20 WP - B Moehler. Pitches-strikes: M Albers 74-48; W Williams 19-16; B Moehler 25-18; B Thompson 64-43; T Percival 12-6; B Falkenborg 10-6; T Johnson 18-10; J Isringhausen 11-8. Ground balls-fly balls: M Albers 13-3; W Williams 1-0; B Moehler 4-1; B Thompson 11-5; T Percival 1-1; B Falkenborg 2-1; T Johnson 0-1; J Isringhausen 0-1. Batters faced: M Albers 27; W Williams 7; B Moehler 7; B Thompson 21; T Percival 3; B Falkenborg 3; T Johnson 6; J Isringhausen 1. UMPIRES: HP--Tim Timmons. 1B--Alfonso Marquez. 2B--Chuck Meriwether. 3B--Rick Reed. T--2:43. Att--46,237. Weather: 84 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 6 mph, in from center.</div>
NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HOUSTON (4) AT ST LOUIS (7) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ST LOUIS 5TH: B Thompson struck out swinging. B Ryan singled to center. B Ryan stole second. D Eckstein doubled to left, B Ryan scored. R Ankiel grounded out to first, D Eckstein to third. R Ludwick doubled to shallow left, D Eckstein scored. S Schumaker grounded out to shortstop. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, ST LOUIS 2. HOUSTON 6TH: J Towles doubled to left. M Albers struck out bunting foul. J Anderson grounded out to first, J Towles to third. C Burke singled to left, J Towles scored. L Berkman lined out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, ST LOUIS 2. ST LOUIS 7TH: W Williams relieved M Albers. C Ransom at shortstop. D Eckstein doubled to center. R Ankiel homered to right, D Eckstein scored. R Ludwick singled to left. S Schumaker singled to center, R Ludwick to second. M Cairo singled to center, S Schumaker out at third, R Ludwick to third. A Miles grounded into fielder's choice to first, M Cairo to second. A Pujols hit for K Stinnett. A Pujols singled to center, R Ludwick and M Cairo scored, A Miles to third. An Reyes ran for A Pujols. B Moehler relieved W Williams. S Taguchi hit for T Percival. S Taguchi singled to center, A Miles scored, An Reyes to second. B Ryan grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, S Taguchi out at second.(5 Runs, 7 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, ST LOUIS 7. HOUSTON 9TH: T Johnson relieved B Falkenborg. J Anderson walked. C Burke singled to left, J Anderson to second. L Berkman popped out to shortstop. C Lee struck out swinging. H Pence homered to center, J Anderson and C Burke scored. C Biggio hit for B Moehler. C Biggio singled to left. J Isringhausen relieved T Johnson. R Branyan at first base. T Wigginton lined out to shortstop. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 4, ST LOUIS 7.</div>
NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HOUSTON (4) AT ST LOUIS (7) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Houston Starting Lineups -- J Anderson CF, C Burke 2B, L Berkman 1B, C Lee LF, H Pence RF, M Loretta SS, T Wigginton 3B, J Towles C, M Albers RHP. St Louis Starting Lineups -- D Eckstein SS, R Ankiel CF, R Ludwick RF, S Schumaker LF, M Cairo 1B, A Miles 2B, K Stinnett C, B Ryan 3B, B Thompson RHP. Umpires -- Tim Timmons (HP), Alfonso Marquez (1B), Chuck Meriwether (2B), Rick Reed (3B). Gametime Weather: 84 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind in from center at 6 mph. HOUSTON 1ST: J Anderson grounded out to third. C Burke fouled out to catcher. L Berkman grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, ST LOUIS 0. ST LOUIS 1ST: D Eckstein singled to left. R Ankiel singled to right, D Eckstein to third. R Ludwick walked, R Ankiel to second. S Schumaker grounded into double play, pitcher to catcher to first, D Eckstein out at home, R Ankiel to third, R Ludwick to second. M Cairo flied out to right. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, ST LOUIS 0. HOUSTON 2ND: C Lee flied out to right. H Pence struck out looking. M Loretta grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, ST LOUIS 0. ST LOUIS 2ND: A Miles singled to center. K Stinnett grounded into fielder's choice to second, A Miles out at second. B Thompson sacrificed to pitcher, K Stinnett to second. B Ryan grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, ST LOUIS 0. HOUSTON 3RD: T Wigginton grounded out to third. J Towles grounded out to shortstop. M Albers grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, ST LOUIS 0. ST LOUIS 3RD: D Eckstein grounded out to shortstop. R Ankiel singled to left. R Ludwick grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, R Ankiel out at second. R Ludwick caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, ST LOUIS 0. HOUSTON 4TH: J Anderson singled to left. C Burke grounded into double play, third to second to first, J Anderson out at second. L Berkman grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, ST LOUIS 0. ST LOUIS 4TH: S Schumaker grounded out to second. M Cairo doubled to left. A Miles reached on infield single to second, M Cairo to third. K Stinnett grounded into double play, shortstop to first, A Miles out at second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, ST LOUIS 0. HOUSTON 5TH: C Lee flied out to right. H Pence grounded out to third. M Loretta singled to left. T Wigginton flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, ST LOUIS 0. ST LOUIS 5TH: B Thompson struck out swinging. B Ryan singled to center. B Ryan stole second. D Eckstein doubled to left, B Ryan scored. R Ankiel grounded out to first, D Eckstein to third. R Ludwick doubled to shallow left, D Eckstein scored. S Schumaker grounded out to shortstop. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, ST LOUIS 2. HOUSTON 6TH: J Towles doubled to left. M Albers struck out bunting foul. J Anderson grounded out to first, J Towles to third. C Burke singled to left, J Towles scored. L Berkman lined out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, ST LOUIS 2. ST LOUIS 6TH: M Cairo grounded out to pitcher. A Miles lined out to third. K Stinnett singled to left. J Edmonds hit for B Thompson. J Edmonds singled to shallow right, K Stinnett to second. J Pineiro ran for J Edmonds. B Ryan flied out to left. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, ST LOUIS 2. HOUSTON 7TH: T Percival relieved B Thompson. C Lee grounded out to shortstop. H Pence walked. H Pence caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. M Loretta popped out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, ST LOUIS 2. ST LOUIS 7TH: W Williams relieved M Albers. C Ransom at shortstop. D Eckstein doubled to center. R Ankiel homered to right, D Eckstein scored. R Ludwick singled to left. S Schumaker singled to center, R Ludwick to second. M Cairo singled to center, S Schumaker out at third, R Ludwick to third. A Miles grounded into fielder's choice to first, M Cairo to second. A Pujols hit for K Stinnett. A Pujols singled to center, R Ludwick and M Cairo scored, A Miles to third. An Reyes ran for A Pujols. B Moehler relieved W Williams. S Taguchi hit for T Percival. S Taguchi singled to center, A Miles scored, An Reyes to second. B Ryan grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, S Taguchi out at second.(5 Runs, 7 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, ST LOUIS 7. HOUSTON 8TH: G Bennett catching. B Falkenborg relieved T Percival. T Wigginton singled to left. J Towles grounded into double play, third to second to first, T Wigginton out at second. C Ransom flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, ST LOUIS 7. ST LOUIS 8TH: D Eckstein lined out to left. R Ankiel grounded out to third. R Ludwick singled to center. R Ludwick to second on wild pitch by B Moehler. S Schumaker singled to left, R Ludwick to third. M Cairo grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, S Schumaker out at second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, ST LOUIS 7. HOUSTON 9TH: T Johnson relieved B Falkenborg. J Anderson walked. C Burke singled to left, J Anderson to second. L Berkman popped out to shortstop. C Lee struck out swinging. H Pence homered to center, J Anderson and C Burke scored. C Biggio hit for B Moehler. C Biggio singled to left. J Isringhausen relieved T Johnson. R Branyan at first base. T Wigginton lined out to shortstop. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 4, ST LOUIS 7.</div>
Ankiel supports Thompson as Cardinals edge Astros <h3>ST LOUIS 7, HOUSTON 4</h3>By Jim Walsh PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- A night after being eliminated frompostseason play, the St. Louis Cardinals looked more like thedefending world champions. Brad Thompson pitched six strong innings and Rick Ankiel belteda two-run home run as the Cardinals defeated the Houston Astros,7-4, on Saturday. It was only the third victory in the last 17 games for St.Louis, which will miss playing in the postseason for the firsttime since 2003. Thompson (7-6) recorded his first win as a starter in more thanthree months after surrendering just one run in seven inningsagainst Kansas City on June 19. The righthander was 0-2 with a5.40 ERA in 12 games - seven starts - since that outing. But Thompson had command of his sinker early on Saturday,retiring 13 of the first 14 batters with only two fly-ball outs.He allowed one run and four hits while striking out twowithout a walk - needing just 64 pitches. Troy Percival and Brian Falkenborg each hurled a scorelessframe, and Tyler Johnson got the first two outs of the ninthbefore yielding a three-run homer to rookie Hunter Pence. Craig Biggio then singled to knock Johnson from the game,setting up closer Jason Isringhausen, who struck out TyWigginton for his 30th save. Ankiel's homer off Woody Williams sparked a five-run seventhinning that provided St. Louis a 7-1 edge. It was the 10th homerun of the season for Ankiel but the first since September 6 forthe pitcher-turned-outfielder. The Cardinals banged out sevenhits, including Albert Pujols' two-run pinch-hit single. Houston starter Matt Albers (4-10) pitched in and out of troublein six innings. The Cardinals collected 11 hits off the24-year-old righthander but had trouble pushing runs across asdouble plays ended St. Louis' rallies in the first and fourth. It was the fourth straight loss for Albers, who had defeated theCardinals in his two previous starts against them earlier thiscampaign. The Cardinals finally broke through in the fifth. With one out,rookie Brendan Ryan singled, stole second and came home onDavid Eckstein's double. Two batters later, Ryan Ludwickdoubled down the left field line, scoring Eckstein and givingthe Cardinals a 2-0 lead. Houston got on the board in the sixth when J.R. Towles doubledand was brought home on Chris Burke's single. It added threemore in the ninth on Pence's homer to provide the final margin. The Astros, who had totaled 24 runs against the Cardinals in thefirst two games of the series, fell short of their firstfour-game winning streak since May.
Ankiel supports Thompson as Cardinals edge Astros <h3>ST LOUIS 7, HOUSTON 4</h3>By Jim Walsh PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- A night after being eliminated from postseason play,the St. Louis Cardinals looked more like the defending world champions. Brad Thompson pitched six strong innings and Rick Ankiel belteda two-run home run as the Cardinals defeated the Houston Astros,7-4, on Saturday. It was only the third victory in the last 17 games for St.Louis, which will miss playing in the postseason for the firsttime since 2003. Thompson (7-6) recorded his first win as a starter in more thanthree months after surrendering just one run in seven inningsagainst Kansas City on June 19. The righthander was 0-2 with a5.40 ERA in 12 games - seven starts - since that outing. "It's been one of those years, it's been weird," said Thompson,who allowed just one three-ball count on the night. "It hasn'tbeen necessarily a good year for me, but it's been a biglearning experience. "One positive for me is (that) I think I can start at thebig-league level, which I didn't know coming into the season -confidence-wise I think that'll help." But Thompson had command of his sinker early on Saturday,retiring 13 of the first 14 batters with only two fly-ball outs.He allowed one run and four hits while striking out two withouta walk - needing just 64 pitches. "It's real clear, when (Thompson) doesn't elevate the ball inthe middle of the plate, he gets outs," St. Louis manager TonyLa Russa said. "He works quickly, he's got confidence, hetrusts himself." Troy Percival and Brian Falkenborg each hurled a scorelessframe, and Tyler Johnson got the first two outs of the ninthbefore yielding a three-run homer to rookie Hunter Pence. Craig Biggio then singled to knock Johnson from the game,setting up closer Jason Isringhausen, who struck out TyWigginton for his 30th save. "We had a chance to win the game," Houston interim manager CecilCooper said. "We had a chance to get back in it, right thereat the end, Hunter gave us a big home run and got us back in it,and we had the tying run on deck." Ankiel's homer off Woody Williams sparked a five-run seventhinning that provided St. Louis a 7-1 edge. It was the 10th homerun of the season for Ankiel but the first since September 6 forthe pitcher-turned-outfielder. The Cardinals banged out sevenhits, including Albert Pujols' two-run pinch-hit single. "When I started not hitting well, I think I was pressing alittle bit," said Ankiel, who had three hits. "But that's over,I feel like I saw the ball well and found some holes in theinfield and got lucky and got one out, it felt good." Pujols' two RBI pushed him to 98 on the season - two shy ofstarting his career with seven straight 100-RBI seasons. But toPujols, the milestone cannot replace the letdown of theCardinals' recent free-fall in the standings. "It would be nice to get (100 RBI)," the St. Louis slugger said."But did that 100 RBI help us win 100 games? No. So, it's adisappointing season as a team. I'm more disappointed that wedidn't get in the playoffs when we were only one game out, andwe hit that wall." Houston starter Matt Albers (4-10) pitched in and out of troublein six innings. The Cardinals collected 11 hits off the24-year-old righthander but had trouble pushing runs across asdouble plays ended St. Louis' rallies in the first and fourth. It was the fourth straight loss for Albers, who had defeated theCardinals in his two previous starts against them earlier thiscampaign. "I was trying to pound the strike zone early, get themswinging," Albers said. "I made a few bad pitches up in thezone, where they got hits in the hole. They just got on alittle bit more today but, overall, I think I did all right." The Cardinals finally broke through in the fifth. With one out,rookie Brendan Ryan singled, stole second and came home onDavid Eckstein's double. Two batters later, Ryan Ludwickdoubled down the left field line, scoring Eckstein and givingthe Cardinals a 2-0 lead. Houston got on the board in the sixth when J.R. Towles doubledand was brought home on Chris Burke's single. It added threemore in the ninth on Pence's homer to provide the final margin. The Astros, who had totaled 24 runs against the Cardinals in thefirst two games of the series, fell short of their firstfour-game winning streak since May.
