• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Lohse, miscues help Cardinals sink Astros

Jun 8, 2008 - 11:21 PM By Ted Dunnam PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Although Sunday's win over the Houston Astros on Sunday wasn't pretty, the patchwork St. Louis Cardinals aren't concerned with artistry right now.

The Cardinals, with 10 players on the disabled list, took advantage of shoddy defensive play in the seventh inning to score five unearned runs and rally for a 5-4 win over the Houston Astros.

Kyle Lohse (7-2) won his fourth straight start, allowing five hits and three earned runs while striking out three in six innings as the Cardinals won a series from the Astros for the fourth time this year.

Ryan Franklin pitched a scoreless ninth for his eighth save.

"That (seventh inning) was huge," Lohse said. "Obviously, because those were the only runs we scored there.

"We took advantage, like we have all year. When another team makes a misplay, we jumped on them and made them pay. That's what we've got to do to win ballgames."

Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez (2-2), who was cruising with a 3-0 lead, hit Ryan Ludwick and pinch hitter Cesar Izturis and also threw a wild pitch that produced a run in the decisive frame.

In addition, Astros third baseman Ty Wigginton bobbled a grounder and center fielder Michael Bourn misplayed a fly ball in the inning as St. Louis rallied to take a 5-3 lead.

"I'm the center fielder - I take blame for it," Bourn said. "It was my ball, I should have taken charge of it.

"There aren't any excuses for it. There's nothing else to it. It's a tough loss but that's how it goes sometimes."

Cardinals leadoff hitter Brendan Ryan aided the cause by delivering a two-run single in the inning.

"That was crazy. We got fortunate," Ryan said. "We had an error there at third, a couple of hit-by-pitches, a wild pitch and a ball found its way up the middle.

"We got pretty fortunate. Wandy was throwing a great game. He was moving the ball in and out and really painting that inside corner. We're really fortunate getting the win."

Lance Berkman gave the Astros a 3-0 lead by belting his 18th home run of the season after a leadoff double from Hunter Pence and a walk to Miguel Tejada.

Berkman blasted a 3-1 pitch from Lohse 460 feet to center field - the third-longest home run in Minute Maid Park history.

It was the only miscue from Lohse all day.

"I made a mistake to the guy in the lineup you really can't do that to," Lohse said. "He made me pay. Other than that, I felt like I made pretty good pitches."

Astros manager Cecil Cooper said the Astros simply gave away a victory.

"It's the most frustrating loss (this year). We handed it to them," Cooper said. "Two hit batters, two errors ... what else can we say? We're much, much better than that.

"Wandy was in command all day until that inning. He tried to go inside on two hitters and hit them. We had two easy plays we didn't even make. You don't give good teams five runs and expect to win."

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa was glad to escape with the victory.

"That was a huge hit (Ryan's single) and it came against a guy (Rodriguez) who was wearing us out all day," La Russa said.

"He was outstanding. We've had pitchers like that pitch outstanding against us and then, all of a sudden, the baseball gods bite you and then there's something that happens that you don't deserve to have happen."