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Lee's blast enables Astros to rally past Cards

Apr 26, 2008 - 5:58 AM By Thad Kemlage PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) - Carlos Lee capped a three-run ninth inning with a solo home run as the Houston Astros rallied to a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday.

With St. Louis nursing a 2-0 lead in the ninth, Miguel Tejada halved the deficit by plating Darin Erstad with a triple. Lance Berkman followed with a sacrifice fly to left field, tying the game at 2-2.

Lee then belted the first pitch he saw from closer Jason Isringhausen for his fifth home run of the season.

"He left the pitch middle-in, so it was kind of a mistake and I took advantage of it," Lee said.

"The big boy stepped up and belted a homer for us," Astros manager Cecil Cooper said. "(It was) probably the biggest win of the season so far."

Isringhausen (1-2) allowed three runs and three hits in one inning and left the mound to a chorus of boos from the St. Louis faithful.

"It's my job to preserve a win and I didn't do it," Isringhausen said. "When you let down 25 guys, it's not a fun job."

Wesley Wright (3-0) pitched one inning - striking out two - to pick up the victory. Jose Valverde notched his fourth save of the season by working the ninth.

St. Louis starter Braden Looper did not factor in the decision despite pitching seven scoreless innings and allowing just two hits.

"My mechanics were really good tonight," Looper said. "I felt like I was standing tall and on top of the ball and keeping it down."

Looper, who retired 16 batters in a row at one point, redeemed himself after his worst outing of the season last Sunday against the Giants. He allowed seven runs and 10 hits in just three innings in that one.

Astros starter Shawn Chacon also did not factor in the decision despite throwing for a quality start in each of his five outings. The righthander yielded one earned run and five hits, but walked six in seven innings.

"It just goes to show that if you keep the game close as a starter, that this team has the chance to score in bunches," Chacon said.

Chacon walked the bases loaded in the first inning before Adam Kennedy drove in the first run of the game on an infield single.

Houston third basemen Geoff Blum made a throwing error on the same play causing the second run to score in the inning. The Astros came into the game with the fewest team errors - eight - in the National League.

"I was a little stiff out there and didn't really feel loose until the third inning," Chacon said.