Cardinals beat Astros 11-2, drop magic number to 2

[September 23, 2009]  HOUSTON (AP) -- Joel Pineiro allowed five hits in seven effective innings, Yadier Molina hit a two-run homer and the St. Louis Cardinals inched closer to the NL Central title on Tuesday night with an 11-2 win over the Houston Astros.

Colby Rasmus added a solo shot as the Cardinals reduced their magic number for clinching the division to two. Pineiro (15-11) struck out four and threw only 87 pitches to win for the first time in four starts.

The Astros have dropped nine in a row, their longest skid since losing 10 straight in May 2007. Interim manager Dave Clark fell to 0-2 since replacing the fired Cecil Cooper on Monday.

Houston starter Yorman Bazardo (0-2) retired the first seven hitters he faced before walking Julio Lugo with one out in the third inning. Lugo advanced on Pineiro's bunt and scored on Skip Schumaker's single to center.

Rasmus walked before Schumaker scored on Albert Pujols' single up the middle. With Matt Holliday batting, Pujols was caught in a rundown between first and second and Rasmus scored for a 3-0 lead.

Bazardo gave up three more runs in the fourth and Clark brought in left-hander Wesley Wright to relieve.

Miguel Tejada singled in the fourth and eventually scored on Geoff Blum's sacrifice fly to left. Pineiro struck out Hunter Pence and got Jeff Keppinger to ground out to end the inning.

St. Louis loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth and stretched the lead to 7-1 when Rick Ankiel grounded into a double play.

Rasmus hit a solo homer, his 16th of the season, in the seventh off left-hander Tim Byrdak.

Mark DeRosa singled off Chad Paronto in the eighth before Molina drove an 0-1 pitch into the left-field porch, his sixth homer of the season. Paronto gave up a home run to DeRosa on Monday night.

Houston scored a run in the eighth off former Astro Trever Miller. Todd Wellemeyer relieved and got the final two outs of the inning.

St. Louis tacked on a run in the ninth off Houston closer Jose Valverde.

NOTES: The Astros announced that RHP Roy Oswalt will meet with orthopedic surgeon Andrew Dossett in Dallas on Thursday for a second opinion on his sore back. Oswalt (8-6, 4.12 ERA) has been diagnosed with a bulging disk and inflammation of a joint in his back. ... The Cardinals voided the contract of 16-year-old Wagner Mateo, an outfielder from the Dominican Republic, after he failed a physical. Mateo signed a deal with the Cardinals on July 2 that included a $3.1 million signing bonus. General manager John Mozeliak said Mateo's physical revealed two injuries that led to the decision to terminate the contract. Mozeliak would not specify what the injuries were, but said they were related. ... Tejada tied the Astros record for hits in a season by a shortstop (179).

[Associated Press; By CHRIS DUNCAN]

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