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Berkman fuels Cardinals over old mates

Apr 29, 2011 - 5:14 AM Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Former Astro Lance Berkman went 4-for-5 with two home runs and five RBI as St. Louis used a nine-run sixth inning to beat Houston, 11-7, in the rubber match of a three-game set at Minute Maid Park.

Matt Holliday had two hits and drove in three for the Cardinals, who won the series and have taken six of eight overall. David Freese hit safely three times and knocked in a run while scoring twice

Kyle McClellan (4-0) picked up the win despite allowing eight hits and five runs over 5 2/3 innings.

Hunter Pence went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Chris Johnson added a two-run shot for the Astros, who have dropped five of their last seven. Carlos Lee added two hits and drove in a pair in defeat.

Fernando Abad (1-2) took the loss, charged with three hits and four runs while retiring just two batters.

Down 4-1 to start the sixth, the Cardinals seized control with a nine-run frame during which they sent 14 men to the plate.

Freese started the run with a base hit and Albert Pujols followed with a single, then Holliday plated Freese and starter Nelson Figueroa gave way to Abad -- who served up Berkman's three-run blast which put St. Louis up 5-4.

A single, walk and fielder's choice left runners on the corners for McClellan, who aided his cause with an RBI single. Two batters later, Jeff Fulchino entered and Freese added another run-scoring single, and after another Pujols hit to fill the bases, Holliday singled in two and Berkman brought in Pujols for a 10-4 game.

Angel Sanchez plated Bill Hall with a single in the home sixth, then the Astros got within 10-7 in the eighth when Daniel Descalso mishandled a Pence grounder with runners on the corners and Lee followed with an RBI hit.

Berkman started the ninth by clearing the right-field wall and Fernando Salas worked around Johnson's one-out double in the ninth for his first save.

Johnson's two-run shot put Houston ahead in the second, and a Pence single made it 3-0 in the third.

Gerald Laird knocked in Berkman with a single in the Cards' fifth, but Lee responded in the Astros' turn by doubling home Pence.

Game Notes

St. Louis also scored 11 at Los Angeles on April 15, and tallied a season-high 15 runs at Arizona two days prior...This was the third-most runs Houston has allowed this year, after a 14-7 loss at Milwaukee on April 22 and a 12-4 defeat at Cincinnati on April 6...Figueroa gave up six hits and four runs with three walks in five-plus innings.