FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE NIGHT THE HOUSTON ASTROS DEALT THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS A 3-0 SET BACK.
HOUSTON'S WANDY RODRIGUEZ PITCHED SEVEN SHUTOUT INNINGS ALLOWING ONLY TWO HITS WHILE STRIKING OUT FIVE AND WALKING TWO.
A TRIO OF RELIEVERS THEN ALLOWED JUST ONE MORE HIT AND ISSUED TWO FREE PASSES AS THEY FINISHED OFF THE SHUTOUT.
NONE OF THE CARDINALS BATTERS WERE ABLE TO GATHER MORE THAN ONE HIT IN THE GAME.
CARDINALS STARTER CHRIS CARPENTER LASTED SEVEN INNINGS ALLOWING THREE RUNS ON SIX HITS WHILE STRIKING OUT THREE AND WALKING TWO.
THE ASTROS DID ALL OF THEIR DAMAGE IN A THREE RUN FIFTH INNING. HUNTER PENCE HIT A TWO RBI TRIPLE IN THE FRAME AND THEN SCORED THE THIRD RUN OF THE INNING ON A CHRIS JOHNSON LINE DRIVE.
THE CARDINALS HAVE NOW LOST FOUR STRAIGHT AND SEVEN OF THEIR LAST EIGHT AND SIT SEVEN GAMES BEHIND DIVISION LEADING CINCINNATI.
THE CARDINALS AND ASTROS FINISH UP THEIR SERIES THIS AFTERNOON BEFORE THE REDS COME TO ST. LOUIS FOR A THREE GAME WEEKEND SERIES STARTING FRIDAY.
ON THE HILL TODAY FOR ST. LOUIS WILL BE 1-6 JEFF SUPPAN. THE ASTROS WILL SEND OUT 3-2 NELSON FIGUEROA. FIRST PITCH IN HOUSTON IS SET FOR 1:05.
