Sun Apr 27 17:09:03 2008

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Four-run fifth sends Cardinals past Astros

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St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Kyle Lohse scattered four hits over six innings of one-run ball, and Troy Glaus and Albert Pujols each homered in the St. Louis Cardinals' 5-1 victory over the Houston Astros at Busch Stadium.

Lohse (3-0) gave up an early run but was otherwise dazzling, striking out three and walking just one before giving way to Kyle McClellan, who earned his first save with three shutout innings.

Glaus hit a two-run homer and Ryan Ludwick smoked a two-run double as part of a four-run Cardinals fifth, and Pujols provided some insurance with a solo blast -- his fifth of the season -- in the seventh. Aaron Miles had a pair of hits for St. Louis, which took the final two of the three-game set.

Brandon Backe (1-3) allowed four runs on five hits and five walks over his five innings, while Mark Loretta drove in the lone Houston run. After taking the series opener, 3-2, on Friday, the Astros were riding a six-game win streak, but have now dropped two straight.

Houston took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when Loretta hit a two-run single to left, scoring Lance Berkman, but Lohse was solid over the next four innings. He retired the side in order during the fourth and fifth, and again in the sixth after St. Louis put up a four-spot in the home fifth.

Rick Ankiel began the big inning with a one-out walk, and Backe allowed another free pass to Pujols one batter later. Ludwick then doubled to right- center, scoring a pair, and Glaus made it a 4-1 ballgame when he lofted a two- run shot to center.

McClellan came on for Lohse in the seventh and worked a 1-2-3 inning before Pujols launched a one-out rocket to straight-away center in the home half, extending the St. Louis lead to 5-1. That proved to be more than enough for McClellan, who held Houston hitless over the final two frames as well.

Game Notes

Dugouts and bullpens emptied during a fifth-inning near brawl triggered by Backe's high-and-tight pitch to Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina. Molina easily got out of the way of the pitch, but appeared to take exception to something Backe had said and started toward the mound. He was stopped in his tracks by Astros catcher J.R. Towles, but not before players from both teams came streaming onto the field. Nothing substantial resulted, other than warnings issued to Backe and Molina, and no further incidents occurred...St. Louis left seven runners on base...Glaus' homer was his first as a Cardinal.