Cardinals 3 - 4 Astros
Final
  for this game

Astros edge Cardinals

Jun 27, 2013 - 5:36 AM Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Erik Bedard pitched six solid innings to help the Houston Astros take a 4-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals to wrap up a two-game set.

Bedard (3-3) gave up three runs on seven hits with a walk and six strikeouts to win his second straight decision.

"He did a great job out there tonight," said Houston catcher Jason Castro. "He regrouped there after a couple of tough innings and was able to throw strikes on a consistent basis."

Brandon Barnes, Carlos Pena, J.D. Martinez and Brett Wallace each drove in a run for the Astros, who had dropped four of six coming into the game.

Yadier Molina hit a two-run home run and Allen Craig added a solo shot for the Cardinals, who have dropped four of their last five.

Lance Lynn (10-2), fresh off his 10th win of the season against the Cubs last Thursday, gave up four runs on five hits over 7 2/3 innings to lose for the first time since May 7.

St. Louis went up 2-0 in the first as Matt Carpenter led off with a bunt single and Molina followed with his sixth homer of the season, a shot to left.

In the fourth, Craig crushed a pitch over the left field wall to start the frame and give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead.

Houston went through the first three innings without a hit but Jose Altuve started the frame with a single and Castro followed suit with a single. Chris Carter then walked and Pena followed with a basehit to give Houston its first run of the game.

Martinez punched a grounder to third that saw a forceout at second, scoring another run. Wallace then singled to tie the game. Two batters later, Barnes singled to center for a 4-3 lead.

"It just goes to show that one bad inning can hurt you," said St. Louis manager Mike Matheny. "He did a really good job before and after that inning, but they were able to get to him in that one frame there."

Matt Holliday doubled with one out in the St. Louis sixth and stole third, but Bedard struck out David Freese and got Shane Robinson to hit into a groundout.

Josh Fields and Wesley Wright pitched the seventh, Jose Cisnero worked around a one-out walk in the eighth, while Jose Veras allowed to men to reach base with one out in the ninth, but set down the next two batters for his 16th save of the season.

Game Notes

Houston has off on Thursday before hosting the Angels for three games starting on Friday ... St. Louis stays on the road for a three-game set in Oakland starting on Friday ... Craig has an eight-game hitting streak ... St. Louis had won 11 of 12 against Houston coming into the game ... Lynn fell to 4-1 in five starts against Houston ... St. Louis went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left seven on base.






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