The Cardinals have gone through their share of adverse times this season, despite it all; St. Louis will still head into the all star break leading the National League Central. They added another game to their lead with a 7-5 extra-inning win over the Astros, Sunday.
Pinch-hitter, Aaron Miles, broke open a 5-5 game with a two-run double off Brad Lidge in the 12th.
It seemed like the two teams couldn’t get enough of each other during the last two games of the four-game series. Albert Pujols’ home run in the 10th inning won the game for St. Louis Saturday. The Birds took the final three games in Houston after losing the series opener.
Miles almost didn’t get the chance to play hero. Winning pitcher, Braden Looper, had to escape a bases loaded jam in the tenth to hold off Houston from tying the series. After Looper gave up a double to Mike Lamb, the right hander hit Chris Burke with a pitch, and walked Lance Berkman to load the bases. Under the watchful eye of nearly 42-thousand fans, Looper struck out Preston Wilson and Jason Lane to end the inning.
Looper finished the 11th inning to get credit for the win. Josh Hancock retired the side in the 12th to get the save.
Houston trailed 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth, but was able to send the game into extra-innings on a Craig Biggio sacrifice fly off Jason Isringhausen.
