Astros complete sweep of Cardinals

[July 23, 2009]  HOUSTON (AP) -- Miguel Tejada singled in the winning run with two outs in the ninth inning Wednesday night, helping the Houston Astros beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 to complete a three-game sweep of their NL Central rival.

Tailing 3-2 entering the ninth, Ivan Rodriguez led off with a single against Cardinals closer Ryan Franklin and scored when Chris Coste, subbing for the injured Lance Berkman, doubled on a long fly to center field that was just out of the reach of Colby Rasmus.

The win pulled the Astros within a game of the Central-leading Cardinals after trailing by six games a month ago.

Tejada was mobbed by most of his teammates near the mound after his hit.

The runs were the first allowed Franklin (2-1) in 18 innings. He allowed four hits.

Houston closer Jose Valverde (1-2) pitched a scoreless ninth for the win.

The game was tied 1-all in the seventh when Ryan Ludwick beat the throw home on a single by Yadier Molina to give St. Louis the lead. Brendan Ryan's sacrifice fly scored Mark DeRosa and made it 3-1.

Kaz Matsui's bases-loaded single in the seventh pulled Houston to 3-2, but Chris Carpenter got out of the jam when Tejada flew out to end the inning.

Berkman, who was out of the starting lineup with a calf strain, hitting for Roy Oswalt got a singled to load the bases before Matsui's hit.

DeRosa's solo homer in the fifth inning put St. Louis ahead 1-0. It was his third home run since being traded from Cleveland after he hit a pair Tuesday.

Carpenter allowed eight hits and struck out five before he was replaced by Franklin for the ninth.

Skip Schumaker doubled in the sixth before Rasmus reached on a fielder's choice where Schumaker was thrown out at third. Cardinals manager Tony La Russa didn't like the call and argued with the third base umpire for a bit before returning to the dugout.

The Astros got out of that inning when Albert Pujols grounded into a double play.

Houston tied it 1-1 in the sixth when Carlos Lee grounded into a force out that scored Michael Bourn.

Oswalt allowed seven hits and three runs in seven innings after throwing a complete game in his last start.

NOTES: St. Louis traded outfielder Chris Duncan to the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday for shortstop Julio Lugo and cash. Duncan has struggled since June 29, going 1 for 31 with no RBIs. ... Astros RHP Chris Sampson, on the disabled list with muscle spasms, threw a bullpen on Wednesday and Astros manager Cecil Cooper said he was feeling good.

[Associated Press; By KRISTIE RIEKEN]

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