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Glaus, Cardinals aim to win series with Astros

Apr 9, 2008 - 1:50 PM St Louis (6-2) at Houston (3-6) 8:05 pm EDT

HOUSTON (Ticker) - The St. Louis Cardinals look to win their third straight series to begin the season when they take on the Houston Astros in the rubber game of a three-game set on Wednesday.

After losing the opener, 5-3, on a Miguel Tejada walk-off home run, St. Louis came back to defeat Houston by the same score on Tuesday. Troy Glaus hit the go-ahead two-run double in the top of the eighth inning to key the win.

The Cardinals have not allowed more than five runs in any of their games so far this season and hope that Braden Looper can repeat the performance he had in his first start on Friday.

Looper (1-0, 1.50 ERA) gave up one run and five hits in six innings, walking two with three strikeouts in a 5-4 victory over Washington.

The former reliever is 6-3 in 34 games - four starts - with a 2.57 ERA against Houston in his career.

The Astros are looking for their first series win of the young season and will have Chris Sampson on the mound to face St. Louis.

Sampson (0-0, 2.70) earned a no-decision after surrendering two runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings during a 4-3 victory over Chicago on Friday. The righthander is 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA in his career against the Cardinals.