NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - HOUSTON 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 6 13 1 ST LOUIS 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 8 0 (BOT 9) CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - CHAD QUALLS STL - MIKE MAROTH DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A MILES (.298, 1-FOR-3) D ECKSTEIN (.305, 3-FOR-3, BB) R ANKIEL (.265, 0-FOR-4, RBI)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">HOUSTON (6) VS ST LOUIS (2) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Anderson cf 5 0 2 1 0 0 2 .439 C Burke 2b 5 1 1 0 0 0 1 .231 L Berkman 1b 4 1 1 2 1 1 2 .276 C Lee lf 5 1 2 0 0 1 0 .300 H Pence rf 4 1 2 0 0 1 3 .325 E Bruntlett rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .250 T Wigginton 3b 5 0 1 1 0 2 2 .298 C Ransom ss 3 1 1 0 1 0 1 .320 J Towles c 3 1 1 2 1 0 1 .400 B Backe p 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 .375 D Sarfate p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 a-O Palmeiro ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .242 C Qualls p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 38 6 13 6 4 6 14 a-singled to left for D Sarfate in the 8th. BATTING: 2B - C Burke (17, J Pineiro); C Lee (41, J Pineiro); C Ransom (2, R Franklin); J Towles (3, R Franklin). HR - L Berkman (31, 1st inning off J Pineiro 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - L Berkman 2 (95), T Wigginton (17), J Towles 2 (11), J Anderson (9). 2-out RBI - T Wigginton. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Ransom 1, L Berkman 1, B Backe 1, J Anderson 1, H Pence 1. Team LOB - 9. BASERUNNING: CS - E Bruntlett (3, 2nd base by M Maroth/Y Molina), J Anderson (1, 2nd base by J Pineiro/Y Molina). FIELDING: E - E Bruntlett (8, line drive). DP: 1 (B Backe-C Ransom-L Berkman). ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 3 0 3 0 1 0 0 .305 R Ankiel cf 4 1 0 1 0 1 5 .265 R Ludwick rf 4 0 1 0 0 1 4 .255 S Spiezio 1b 2 0 0 1 1 0 2 .255 S Schumaker lf 4 0 2 0 0 1 1 .320 Y Molina c 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 .276 M Cairo 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .265 J Pineiro p 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .067 T Johnson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 R Springer p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 a-B Ryan ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .302 R Franklin p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 R Flores p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 b-J Edmonds ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .248 M Maroth p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 A Miles 2b 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 .298 Totals 31 2 8 2 3 4 20 a-walked for R Springer in the 7th; b-grounded to first for R Flores in the 8th. BATTING: 2B - S Schumaker (9, B Backe). SF - S Spiezio. RBI - S Spiezio (30), R Ankiel (31). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Ludwick 1, J Edmonds 1, Y Molina 1. Team LOB - 9. FIELDING: DP: 1 (Y Molina-A Miles). ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON - 300 000 030 -- 6 ST LOUIS - 100 010 00 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era B Backe 6 6 2 2 2 2 0 4.37 D Sarfate 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 0.00 C Qualls 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.20 ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era J Pineiro 5 2/3 8 3 3 3 4 1 4.53 T Johnson 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.41 R Springer 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.14 R Franklin 1/3 4 3 3 0 0 0 2.79 R Flores 2/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.39 M Maroth 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 10.95 Pitches-strikes: B Backe 87-52; D Sarfate 17-9; C Qualls 15-11; J Pineiro 111-66; T Johnson 3-2; R Springer 9-6; R Franklin 12-9; R Flores 10-7; M Maroth 18-8. Ground balls-fly balls: B Backe 4-11; D Sarfate 0-1; C Qualls 3-0; J Pineiro 7-5; T Johnson 1-0; R Springer 1-1; R Franklin 0-1; R Flores 2-0; M Maroth 0-1. Batters faced: B Backe 25; D Sarfate 5; C Qualls 5; J Pineiro 27; T Johnson 1; R Springer 3; R Franklin 5; R Flores 3; M Maroth 3. UMPIRES: HP--Rick Reed. 1B--Tim Timmons. 2B--Alfonso Marquez. 3B--Chuck Meriwether. Weather: 82 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, out to left.</div>
NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - PITCHING CHANGE HOU: STEPHEN RANDOLPH (0-1, 10.50) STARTING THE 9TH CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 6, ST LOUIS 2 DUE UP FOR STLOUIS: A MILES (.298, 1-FOR-3)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: S Randolph relieved C Qualls. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 6 ST LOUIS 2 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A Miles (.298, 1-FOR-3)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: A Pujols hit for S Schumaker. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, S SPIEZIO ON FIRST, R LUDWICK ON SECOND, R ANKIEL ON THIRD, 2 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 6 ST LOUIS 2 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A Pujols (.321, 31 HR, 95 RBI)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - PITCHING CHANGE HOU: BRAD LIDGE (5-2, 2.97) IN THE 9TH SITUATION: NO RUNS IN, S SPIEZIO ON FIRST, R LUDWICK ON SECOND, R ANKIEL ON THIRD, 2 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 6, ST LOUIS 2 DUE UP FOR STLOUIS: A PUJOLS (.321, 31 HR, 95 RBI)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: B Lidge relieved S Randolph. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, S SPIEZIO ON FIRST, R LUDWICK ON SECOND, R ANKIEL ON THIRD, 2 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 6 ST LOUIS 2 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A Pujols (.321, 31 HR, 95 RBI)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - SCORING UPDATE BASES LOADED WALK TO ALBERT PUJOLS SCORED RICK ANKIEL. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A PUJOLS ON FIRST, S SPIEZIO ON SECOND, R LUDWICK ON THIRD, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 6 ST LOUIS 3 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: Y MOLINA (.276, 0-FOR-4)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: An Reyes ran for A Pujols. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, AN REYES ON FIRST, S SPIEZIO ON SECOND, R LUDWICK ON THIRD, 2 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 6 ST LOUIS 3 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: Y Molina (.276, 0-FOR-4)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - HOUSTON 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 6 13 1 ST LOUIS 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 3 8 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: HOU - BRANDON BACKE, DENNIS SARFATE (7TH), CHAD QUALLS (8TH), STEPHEN RANDOLPH (9TH), BRAD LIDGE (9TH) AND J.R. TOWLES STL - JOEL PINEIRO, TYLER JOHNSON (6TH), RUSS SPRINGER (7TH), RYAN FRANKLIN (8TH), RANDY FLORES (8TH), MIKE MAROTH (9TH) AND YADIER MOLINA HOME RUNS: HOU - LANCE BERKMAN (31) OFF JOEL PINEIRO IN THE 1ST, 1 ON STL - NONE</div>
NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - HOUSTON 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 6 13 1 ST LOUIS 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 3 8 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: HOU - BRANDON BACKE, DENNIS SARFATE (7TH), CHAD QUALLS (8TH), STEPHEN RANDOLPH (9TH), BRAD LIDGE (9TH) AND J.R. TOWLES STL - JOEL PINEIRO, TYLER JOHNSON (6TH), RUSS SPRINGER (7TH), RYAN FRANKLIN (8TH), RANDY FLORES (8TH), MIKE MAROTH (9TH) AND YADIER MOLINA WP - BRANDON BACKE (2-1) LP - JOEL PINEIRO (5-4) SAVE - BRAD LIDGE (16) HOME RUNS: HOU - LANCE BERKMAN (31) OFF JOEL PINEIRO IN THE 1ST, 1 ON STL - NONE TIME: 3:38 ATT: 43,677 PROBABLES: HOU - MATT ALBERS (4-9, 6.05) STL - BRAD THOMPSON (6-6, 5.14)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">HOUSTON (6) VS ST LOUIS (3) - FINAL HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Anderson cf 5 0 2 1 0 0 2 .439 C Burke 2b 5 1 1 0 0 0 1 .231 L Berkman 1b 4 1 1 2 1 1 2 .276 C Lee lf 5 1 2 0 0 1 0 .300 H Pence rf 4 1 2 0 0 1 3 .325 E Bruntlett rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .250 T Wigginton 3b 5 0 1 1 0 2 2 .298 C Ransom ss 3 1 1 0 1 0 1 .320 J Towles c 3 1 1 2 1 0 1 .400 B Backe p 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 .375 D Sarfate p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 a-O Palmeiro ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .242 C Qualls p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 S Randolph p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 B Lidge p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 38 6 13 6 4 6 14 a-singled to left for D Sarfate in the 8th. BATTING: 2B - C Burke (17, J Pineiro); C Lee (41, J Pineiro); C Ransom (2, R Franklin); J Towles (3, R Franklin). HR - L Berkman (31, 1st inning off J Pineiro 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - L Berkman 2 (95), T Wigginton (17), J Towles 2 (11), J Anderson (9). 2-out RBI - T Wigginton. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Ransom 1, L Berkman 1, B Backe 1, J Anderson 1, H Pence 1. Team LOB - 9. BASERUNNING: CS - E Bruntlett (3, 2nd base by M Maroth/Y Molina), J Anderson (1, 2nd base by J Pineiro/Y Molina). FIELDING: E - E Bruntlett (8, line drive). DP: 1 (B Backe-C Ransom-L Berkman). ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 4 0 3 0 1 0 0 .304 R Ankiel cf 4 2 0 1 1 1 5 .265 R Ludwick rf 4 0 1 0 1 1 4 .255 S Spiezio 1b 2 0 0 1 2 0 2 .255 S Schumaker lf 4 0 2 0 0 1 1 .320 c-A Pujols ph 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 .321 An Reyes pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .077 Y Molina c 5 0 0 0 0 0 7 .275 M Cairo 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .265 J Pineiro p 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .067 T Johnson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 R Springer p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 a-B Ryan ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .302 R Franklin p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 R Flores p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 b-J Edmonds ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .248 M Maroth p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 A Miles 2b 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 .297 Totals 34 3 8 3 7 4 23 a-walked for R Springer in the 7th; b-grounded to first for R Flores in the 8th; c-walked for S Schumaker in the 9th. BATTING: 2B - S Schumaker (9, B Backe). SF - S Spiezio. RBI - S Spiezio (30), R Ankiel (31), A Pujols (96). 2-out RBI - A Pujols. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Ludwick 1, J Edmonds 1, Y Molina 3. Team LOB - 12. BASERUNNING: SB - R Ankiel (1, 2nd base off S Randolph/J Towles). FIELDING: DP: 1 (Y Molina-A Miles). ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON - 300 000 030 -- 6 ST LOUIS - 100 010 001 -- 3 ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era B Backe (W, 2-1) 6 6 2 2 2 2 0 4.37 D Sarfate (H, 2) 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 0.00 C Qualls 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.20 S Randolph 2/3 0 1 1 3 0 0 10.66 B Lidge (S, 16) 1/3 0 0 0 1 0 0 2.95 ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era J Pineiro (L, 5-4) 5 2/3 8 3 3 3 4 1 4.53 T Johnson 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.41 R Springer 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.14 R Franklin 1/3 4 3 3 0 0 0 2.79 R Flores 2/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.39 M Maroth 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 10.95 Pitches-strikes: B Backe 87-52; D Sarfate 17-9; C Qualls 15-11; S Randolph 28-12; B Lidge 8-3; J Pineiro 111-66; T Johnson 3-2; R Springer 9-6; R Franklin 12-9; R Flores 10-7; M Maroth 18-8. Ground balls-fly balls: B Backe 4-11; D Sarfate 0-1; C Qualls 3-0; S Randolph 0-2; B Lidge 1-0; J Pineiro 7-5; T Johnson 1-0; R Springer 1-1; R Franklin 0-1; R Flores 2-0; M Maroth 0-1. Batters faced: B Backe 25; D Sarfate 5; C Qualls 5; S Randolph 5; B Lidge 2; J Pineiro 27; T Johnson 1; R Springer 3; R Franklin 5; R Flores 3; M Maroth 3. UMPIRES: HP--Rick Reed. 1B--Tim Timmons. 2B--Alfonso Marquez. 3B--Chuck Meriwether. T--3:38. Att--43,677. Weather: 82 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, out to left.</div>
Berkman, Backe pace Astros past Cardinals <h3>HOUSTON 6, ST LOUIS 3</h3>ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- A night after scoring a season-high 18runs, the Houston Astros needed only a pair of three-runinnings. Lance Berkman hit a first inning two-run homer and Brandon Backepitched six strong innings as the Astros defeated the St. LouisCardinals, 6-3, on Friday. It was the third straight win for the Astros, while theCardinals have lost 14 of 16. Backe (2-1), who was making just his fourth start of the seasonafter missing the first five months due to "Tommy John" surgery,scattered six hits and gave up two runs. The Cardinals nearly rallied for an improbable win in the bottomof the ninth. Houston reliever Stephen Randolph walked thebases loaded with two outs followed by Brad Lidge walking pinchhitter Albert Pujols on four pitches to make the score, 6-3.Lidge then retired Yadier Molina on a fielder's choice toshortstop for his 16th save. Houston scored three runs in the first on Berkman's home run andTy Wigginton's RBI single off Cardinals starter Joel Pineiro. J.R. Towles, who set a franchise record with eight RBI onThursday, lined a two-run double in the top of the eighth andJosh Anderson added a RBI single to forge a 6-2 lead. Scott Spiezio had a sacrifice fly in the first and Rick Ankielhad a RBI fielder's choice in the fifth for the Cardinals, whowere officially eliminated from making the playoffs. Trailing, 3-2, in the bottom of the seventh inning, theCardinals threatened to tie the game with runners on first andthird and one out. However, Houston reliever Dennis Sarfatestruck out Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick to end the inning. Pineiro (6-5) went 5 2/3 innings and gave up three runs on eighthits.
NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HOUSTON (6) AT ST LOUIS (3) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HOUSTON 1ST: J Anderson grounded out to second. C Burke doubled to right. L Berkman homered to center, C Burke scored. C Lee doubled to deep center. H Pence struck out swinging. T Wigginton singled to left, C Lee scored, T Wigginton to second advancing on throw. C Ransom grounded out to third. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, ST LOUIS 0. ST LOUIS 1ST: D Eckstein singled to center. R Ankiel grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, D Eckstein out at second. R Ludwick singled to center, R Ankiel to third. S Spiezio hit sacrifice fly to right, R Ankiel scored. S Schumaker singled to right, R Ludwick to second. Y Molina grounded into fielder's choice to third, S Schumaker out at second. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, ST LOUIS 1. ST LOUIS 5TH: J Pineiro flied out to left. A Miles reached on bunt single to third. D Eckstein singled to right, A Miles to third. R Ankiel grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, A Miles scored, D Eckstein out at second. R Ludwick fouled out to first. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, ST LOUIS 2. HOUSTON 8TH: R Franklin relieved R Springer. H Pence singled to right. T Wigginton flied out to right. C Ransom hit a ground rule double to deep right center, H Pence to third. J Towles doubled to left, H Pence and C Ransom scored. O Palmeiro hit for D Sarfate. O Palmeiro singled to left, J Towles to third. R Flores relieved R Franklin. J Anderson reached on infield single to pitcher, J Towles scored, O Palmeiro to second. C Burke grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, J Anderson out at second, O Palmeiro to third. L Berkman grounded out to second. (3 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 6, ST LOUIS 2. ST LOUIS 9TH: S Randolph relieved C Qualls. A Miles popped out to second. D Eckstein fouled out to third. R Ankiel walked. R Ankiel stole second. R Ludwick walked. S Spiezio walked, R Ankiel to third, R Ludwick to second. A Pujols hit for S Schumaker. B Lidge relieved S Randolph. A Pujols walked, R Ankiel scored, R Ludwick to third, S Spiezio to second. An Reyes ran for A Pujols. Y Molina grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, An Reyes out at second. (1 Run, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 6, ST LOUIS 3.</div>
NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HOUSTON (6) AT ST LOUIS (3) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Houston Starting Lineups -- J Anderson CF, C Burke 2B, L Berkman 1B, C Lee LF, H Pence RF, T Wigginton 3B, C Ransom SS, J Towles C, B Backe RHP. St Louis Starting Lineups -- D Eckstein SS, R Ankiel CF, R Ludwick RF, S Spiezio 1B, S Schumaker LF, Y Molina C, M Cairo 3B, A Miles 2B, J Pineiro RHP. Umpires -- Rick Reed (HP), Tim Timmons (1B), Alfonso Marquez (2B), Chuck Meriwether (3B). Gametime Weather: 82 degrees, Clear, wind out to left at 7 mph. HOUSTON 1ST: J Anderson grounded out to second. C Burke doubled to right. L Berkman homered to center, C Burke scored. C Lee doubled to deep center. H Pence struck out swinging. T Wigginton singled to left, C Lee scored, T Wigginton to second advancing on throw. C Ransom grounded out to third. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, ST LOUIS 0. ST LOUIS 1ST: D Eckstein singled to center. R Ankiel grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, D Eckstein out at second. R Ludwick singled to center, R Ankiel to third. S Spiezio hit sacrifice fly to right, R Ankiel scored. S Schumaker singled to right, R Ludwick to second. Y Molina grounded into fielder's choice to third, S Schumaker out at second. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, ST LOUIS 1. HOUSTON 2ND: J Towles flied out to right. B Backe popped out to second. J Anderson singled to center. J Anderson caught stealing second, catcher to second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, ST LOUIS 1. ST LOUIS 2ND: M Cairo popped out to shortstop. J Pineiro struck out swinging. A Miles flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, ST LOUIS 1. HOUSTON 3RD: C Burke grounded out to third. L Berkman grounded out to pitcher. C Lee struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, ST LOUIS 1. ST LOUIS 3RD: D Eckstein walked. R Ankiel flied out to right. R Ludwick popped out to third. S Spiezio popped out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, ST LOUIS 1. HOUSTON 4TH: H Pence singled to left. T Wigginton grounded out to pitcher, H Pence to second. C Ransom walked. J Towles grounded into fielder's choice to third, C Ransom out at second, H Pence to third. B Backe struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, ST LOUIS 1. ST LOUIS 4TH: S Schumaker doubled to center. Y Molina grounded into double play, pitcher to shortstop to first, S Schumaker out at third. M Cairo flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, ST LOUIS 1. HOUSTON 5TH: J Anderson grounded out to pitcher. C Burke popped out to second. L Berkman walked. C Lee singled to right, L Berkman to second. H Pence flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, ST LOUIS 1. ST LOUIS 5TH: J Pineiro flied out to left. A Miles reached on bunt single to third. D Eckstein singled to right, A Miles to third. R Ankiel grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, A Miles scored, D Eckstein out at second. R Ludwick fouled out to first. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, ST LOUIS 2. HOUSTON 6TH: T Wigginton struck out swinging. C Ransom flied out to center. J Towles walked. B Backe singled to left, J Towles to second. T Johnson relieved J Pineiro. J Anderson grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, ST LOUIS 2. ST LOUIS 6TH: S Spiezio walked. S Schumaker struck out looking. Y Molina lined out to left. M Cairo flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, ST LOUIS 2. HOUSTON 7TH: R Springer relieved T Johnson. C Burke bunt grounded out to pitcher. L Berkman struck out swinging. C Lee flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, ST LOUIS 2. ST LOUIS 7TH: B Ryan hit for R Springer. D Sarfate relieved B Backe. B Ryan walked. A Miles popped out to third. D Eckstein singled to right, B Ryan to third. R Ankiel struck out swinging. R Ludwick struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, ST LOUIS 2. HOUSTON 8TH: R Franklin relieved R Springer. H Pence singled to right. T Wigginton flied out to right. C Ransom hit a ground rule double to deep right center, H Pence to third. J Towles doubled to left, H Pence and C Ransom scored. O Palmeiro hit for D Sarfate. O Palmeiro singled to left, J Towles to third. R Flores relieved R Franklin. J Anderson reached on infield single to pitcher, J Towles scored, O Palmeiro to second. C Burke grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, J Anderson out at second, O Palmeiro to third. L Berkman grounded out to second. (3 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 6, ST LOUIS 2. ST LOUIS 8TH: E Bruntlett in right field. C Qualls relieved D Sarfate. S Spiezio grounded out to second. S Schumaker grounded out to shortstop. Y Molina safe at second on error by right fielder E Bruntlett. M Cairo singled to right, Y Molina to third. J Edmonds hit for R Flores. J Edmonds grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) HOUSTON 6, ST LOUIS 2. HOUSTON 9TH: M Maroth relieved R Flores. C Lee flied out to right. E Bruntlett walked. T Wigginton struck out swinging, E Bruntlett caught stealing second, catcher to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 6, ST LOUIS 2. ST LOUIS 9TH: S Randolph relieved C Qualls. A Miles popped out to second. D Eckstein fouled out to third. R Ankiel walked. R Ankiel stole second. R Ludwick walked. S Spiezio walked, R Ankiel to third, R Ludwick to second. A Pujols hit for S Schumaker. B Lidge relieved S Randolph. A Pujols walked, R Ankiel scored, R Ludwick to third, S Spiezio to second. An Reyes ran for A Pujols. Y Molina grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, An Reyes out at second. (1 Run, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 6, ST LOUIS 3.</div>
Berkman, Backe pace Astros past Cardinals <h3>HOUSTON 6, ST LOUIS 3</h3>ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- A night after scoring a season-high 18runs, the Houston Astros needed only a pair of three-runinnings. Lance Berkman hit a first-inning, two-run homer and BrandonBacke pitched six strong frames as the Astros defeated the St.Louis Cardinals, 6-3, on Friday. It was the third straight win for the Astros, while theCardinals have lost 14 of 16. "All and all, I thought we pitched well," Astros interim managerCecil Cooper said. "Brandon, I thought, didn't have the stuffthat he had his last outing. But he battled." Backe (2-1), who was making just his fourth start of the seasonafter missing the first five months due to "Tommy John" surgery,scattered six hits and gave up two runs. "I think I did OK," Backe said. "I battled with what I had. Ithink that's where the competitiveness overtakes the 'stuff.'You go out there and compete and make the pitches that youactually need to. Then you can get out of jams and helpyourself out a lot." The Cardinals nearly rallied for an improbable win in the bottomof the ninth. Houston reliever Stephen Randolph walked thebases loaded with two outs and Brad Lidge walking pinch hitterAlbert Pujols on four pitches to make it 6-3. "The game plan was to try to get ahead of (Pujols) and put himaway," Lidge said. "I'm not trying to walk him. I really amtrying to throw a strike. But at the same time, you have to besmart when you fall behind a guy like that in a situation likethat. "He's a great hitter and I have a lot of respect for him, butI'm certainly trying to get him out when I come into theinning." Lidge then got Yadier Molina to hit into a forceout for his 16thsave. Houston scored three runs in the first on Berkman's home run andTy Wigginton's RBI single off Cardinals starter Joel Pineiro. J.R. Towles, who set a franchise record with eight RBI onThursday, lined a two-run double in the top of the eighth andJosh Anderson added a RBI single to forge a 6-2 lead. Scott Spiezio had a sacrifice fly in the first and Rick Ankielhit an RBI grounder in the fifth for the Cardinals, whoofficially were eliminated from the playoffs. "It was academic," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "Thething that's more irritating is the current stretch of having atough time winning a game. We're right there, we just can'tpunch through." Trailing, 3-2, in the bottom of the seventh, the Cardinalsthreatened to tie the game by putting runners on first and thirdwith one out. However, Houston reliever Dennis Sarfate struckout Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick to end the inning. Pineiro (6-5) went 5 2/3 innings, giving up three runs and eighthits. "If I could avoid those early struggles, those early runs in thegame, it could be a totally different ballgame," Pineiro said."I tried to battle, I tried to keep the guys in the ballgame."
