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Towles hit a two-run double off Braden Looper (12-11) in the second to open the scoring. He added a two-run single in the fourth, an RBI double in the sixth and a bases-loaded walk in the eighth before hitting his first career homer in the ninth off Aaron Miles.
Miles, an infielder, was on the mound because the Cardinals were short on pitchers after allowing 10 or more runs for the second time in four games. They also went 10 innings to beat the Phillies 2-1 on Wednesday night.
Towles, a 23-year-old catcher, began the year at Class-A Salem and was among the September callups, going 3-for-13 with one RBI in five games before Thursday.
His record-setting night came in the opener of a four-game series matching out-of-the-running teams that combined for the last three National League pennants and 10 of the last 13 NL Central titles.
Behind a 23-hit attack the Astros won for the fifth time in 15 games and surpassed their previous best for runs (15) and hits (22) established Sunday against the Pirates. The Cardinals, last year's World Series champions, have lost 13 of 15 in a September swoon prompted by injuries that have left them with a shell of their lineup.
[Associated Press;
by R.B. Fallstrom]
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
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