Houston, TX (My Sportsbook) - Lance Berkman's game-winning home run in the ninth propelled the
Houston Astros to a 3-2 win over the
St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a three-game set at Minute Maid Park.
With one out and Russ Springer (2-1) on the mound, Berkman ripped a 2-0 fastball that went just foul in right field. However, he slammed the next pitch over the left field wall for the win.
David Newhan hit a two-run home run while Doug Brocail (6-5) got the win for pitching a scoreless ninth for the Astros, who have won three straight. Randy Wolf started on the hill and gave up two runs -- one earned -- on three hits in six innings of work.
Ryan Ludwick and Yadier Molina each drove in a run for the Cardinals, who have lost three of their last five games.
Kyle Lohse threw eight innings and gave up just two runs on seven hits with a walk and six strikeouts for St. Louis, which fell 4 1/2 games behind Milwaukee for the NL Wild Card spot. The Brewers beat Pittsburgh earlier Friday.
The Cardinals grabbed the lead in the fourth inning. With two outs, Ludwick reached second base as Wolf fielded the grounder, but threw the ball away. After Troy Glaus walked, Molina knocked a ground-rule double that allowed Ludwick to score for a 1-0 lead.
St. Louis tacked on another run in the sixth as Nick Stavinoha led off with a ground-rule double, moved to third on a ground out and crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly from Ludwick for a 2-0 advantage.
The Astros tied the game in the seventh. With two outs, Hunter Pence kept the inning alive as he beat out an infield single and Newhan followed by slamming a 3-1 fastball into the right field seats.
Game Notes
Houston turned three double plays in the game...Houston has won the first game of all five series with the Cardinals this season. However, in the previous four sets, St. Louis took the next two games...Attendance was 33,347...On Friday, Houston signed outfielder Darin Erstad to a one-year, $1.75-million contract extension and right-handed pitcher Brian Moehler to a one-year, $2.3- million contract extension.
