Hall lifts Astros over Cardinals 6-5

[April 27, 2011]  HOUSTON (AP) -- Bill Hall's ninth-inning RBI single gave the Houston Astros a 6-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night.

Brian Bogusevic came home on a wild pitch by closer Mitchell Boggs (0-1) earlier in the inning. He singled before advancing taking second on a passed ball. Michael Bourn bunted and reached first on an error by Boggs that got Bogusevic to third to set up the score.

Angel Sanchez and Hunter Pence both singled to load the bases and set up Hall's one-out winner.

Lance Berkman put the Cardinals on top 5-4 with a ninth-inning RBI double off Brandon Lyon (2-1) before Hall ruined his homecoming.

Lyon allowed two hits and a run in the ninth for the win.

Pence homered and Chris Johnson drove in a pair of runs for Houston.

Berkman played 12 seasons with the Astros before being traded to the Yankees last year and signing with the Cardinals in the offseason.

He got a standing ovation on his first at-bat and singled before he was picked off trying to steal second. Though the crowd was overwhelmingly supportive, there were a smattering of boos each time he came to the plate and two men sitting beside each other had dueling signs addressing his return. One read: 'Berkman's a traitor' and the other said: 'Berkman is the man!'

Brett Wallace singled in the eighth inning, but pinch-runner Jason Bourgeois was picked off at first before Jason Motte struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

Daniel Descalso's third extra-base hit and second double of the game drove in Yadier Molina and tied it at 4 in the eighth inning. Descalso entered the game with an 0 for 9 streak.

Reliever Jeff Fulchino retired Mark Hamilton in the eighth before Albert Pujols pinch hit. Pujols was out of the lineup as a precaution after experiencing mild tightness in his right hamstring on Sunday. The Astros intentionally walked him, but Houston was able to limit the damage when Fulchino retired Colby Rasmus.

Houston starter Bud Norris yielded seven hits and three runs -- all unearned -- with six strikeouts in six innings. Cardinals' starter Jaime Garcia allowed six hits and four runs in 5 1-3 innings.

Houston had a chance to extend the lead in the bottom of the seventh after a bunt single by Bourn, a single by Pence and an intentional walk to Carlos Lee with one out loaded the bases. Reliever Miguel Batista escaped that jam when Hall grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Angel Sanchez singled in the sixth inning before Lee reached on an error by third baseman David Freese with one out. Garcia loaded the bases by walking Hall before an RBI single by Brett Wallace made it 3-2 and chased Garcia.

Batista gave a the two-run single to Johnson that put Houston on top 4-3 before retiring Humberto Quintero and Joe Inglett to end the inning.

Pence cut the Cardinals' lead to 3-1 with his home run to left field off Garcia in the fourth inning. It Pence's fourth of the year was the first homer allowed by Garcia this season.

Freese reached on an error by shortstop Angel Sanchez with two outs in the fourth inning. Molina followed with a single to right field before Nick Punto drove Freese in with a double to right field to put St. Louis up 1-0. Descalso made it 3-0 with a triple that scored Molina and Punto. Norris retired Garcia for the third out.

NOTES: St. Louis SS Ryan Theriot was scratched from the lineup Tuesday night because of soreness on the right side of his rib cage. He was replaced at SS by Punto. ... Houston OF Jason Michaels was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a separated left shoulder. Bogusevic was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma to take his roster spot. ... Astros' INF Clint Barmes, on the disabled list with a broken left hand, had a double and an RBI in seven innings in a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma on Tuesday night.

[Associated Press; By KRISTIE RIEKEN]

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