Cards capitalize on 2 errors to rally past Astros

[June 09, 2008]  HOUSTON (AP) -- Brendan Ryan hit a two-run single to cap a comeback fueled by two Houston errors and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Astros 5-4 on Sunday.

Kyle Lohse (7-2) gave up a three-run homer to Lance Berkman, but otherwise pitched six strong innings to beat the Astros for the third time this season. Ryan Franklin struck out the side in the ninth for his eighth save.

The Cardinals have won all three series with the Astros this season and 10 of the last 14 meetings.

Wandy Rodriguez (2-2) pitched well for six innings, pitched well for six innings. He and the Astros unraveled in the seventh, when the Cardinals scored five runs to rally from a 3-0 deficit.

Ryan Ludwick was hit by a pitch leading off the inning and Troy Glaus hit a sharp grounder that Ty Wigginton bobbled at third for an error. Yadier Molina singled to load the bases before Ludwick scored on Brian Barton's sacrifice fly to right.

Cesar Izturis, pinch-hitting for Lohse, was hit by a pitch and the bases were loaded again. Rodriguez struck out Aaron Miles, but threw a wild pitch as Ryan batted, allowing Glaus to come home.

Ryan then singled to center, scoring Molina and Izturis, and Houston manager Cecil Cooper brought in Doug Brocail to relieve Rodriguez. Joe Mather blooped an apparently routine fly to right center, but Michael Bourn dropped it and Ryan scored for a 5-3 lead.

Berkman hit his 18th homer after Hunter Pence doubled and Miguel Tejada walked in the third. Berkman drove a 3-1 pitch into the dining area in center field, a 460-foot shot. He's hit 14 of his 18 home runs batting left-handed.

Rodriguez cruised through the first six innings, allowing only two hits with six strikeouts. He retired 14 in a row after Barton's one-out single in the second. 

Brad Ausmus had an RBI double in the seventh off former Astro Russ Springer. The rally ended there, as Springer set down the next three Astros in order.

Darin Erstad hit a two-out, pinch-hit double off Randy Flores in the eighth, but Bourn flied out to end the inning.

Notes: Astros officials said Berkman's homer was the third-longest in Minute Maid Park history. Berkman hit the longest homer here, a 464-foot shot off Tampa Bay's Geremi Gonzalez, on June 7, 2003. ... RHP Adam Wainwright flew to St. Louis on Sunday and will have his sprained right middle finger examined by doctors on Monday. Wainwright left Saturday's game in the sixth. ... Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said rookie Mitchell Boggs will start Tuesday's game in Cincinnati. Boggs made his big league debut in Houston on Friday, pitching two innings of relief. Boggs will start in place of Todd Wellemeyer, who will be evaluated Monday for inflammation in his right elbow.

[Associated Press; By CHRIS DUNCAN]

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