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Wainwright helps Cardinals avoid third straight loss

May 29, 2008 - 4:02 AM By Jim Walsh PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- The Houston Astros seem to bring out the best in Adam Wainwright.

Wainwright was excellent over eight innings and the St. Louis Cardinals took advantage of some early miscues en route to a 6-1 victory over the Astros on Wednesday.

Wainwright (5-2) was in control throughout the game, overpowering Houston with his slider, curve and fastball. The Cardinals ace retired 15 straight Houston batters in a stretch from the third inning to the eighth until J.R. Towles reached on Cesar Izturis' fielding error.

"My breaking ball was good tonight," Wainwright said. "The main thing for me tonight was I was able to command my fastball. That's something that has been hit or miss for me this year.

"That's part of who I am is fastball, curveball and sometimes I get away from that and I just have to check myself."

The 6-7 righthander improved to 4-0 with a 2.18 ERA in five career starts against the Astros, allowing just one run, three hits and a walk while matching a career high with eight strikeouts.

"You can't give him enough credit for how well he pitched," St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said. "It's a very tough lineup and he made so many good pitches. Shut them down, as good as they're swinging. Outstanding."

Chris Perez pitched a scoreless ninth to finish things off for St. Louis, which won for the fifth time in eight games against Houston this year.

Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez was touched for three unearned runs in the first inning.

After Brendan Ryan's leadoff single, Rick Ankiel followed with a grounder up the middle which was fielded by second baseman Kaz Matsui, who flipped the ball backhanded over the head of shortstop Miguel Tejada at second. Ryan scampered to third while Ankiel advanced to second on the error.

Albert Pujols was then intentionally walked to load the bases before Rodriguez missed on his next four pitches, walking Ryan Ludwick to plate Ryan. The Cardinals added two more on Yadier Molina's groundout and Rodriguez's wild pitch to grab a 3-0 edge.

"You can't spot this team runs," Houston manager Cecil Cooper said. "It makes it difficult, especially against a quality pitcher, and (Wainwright) was good tonight."

Ty Wigginton narrowed the gap in the second with a solo home run, but it was all the Astros could muster.

"(Wainwright) was lights out from the get-go," Wigginton said. "He left one to me up in the zone but he didn't leave too many up in the zone all night as you can tell."

Izturis supplied a two-run triple in the fourth and Molina drove in his second run with single in the fifth to make it 6-1.

Rodriguez (1-1) was shaky in his first start since a groin injury that sidelined him on April 19. The 29-year-old lefthander lasted only 4 2/3 innings, surrendering six runs - three earned on six hits and four walks.

"I couldn't throw my curveball for a strike today," said Rodriguez, who fell to 1-5 in his career against St. Louis. "I felt excellent, there was no soreness in my leg. I just need more work."

Tejada extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a single in the first inning for the Astros, who had won five of their last seven contests.