Carlos Lee’s three run homer in the fourth inning gave Houston the lead and eventually the win as the Cardinals open their series with a 3-2 loss to the Astros. Kyle Lohse took the loss despite giving up just five hits and two walks, but the Cardinals bats went silent from the fifth inning on.
The Cardinals got on the board first when Yadier Molina singled in two with a single in the fourth inning off Astros starter Brian Moehler. The Astros came right back against Lohse. He gave up a lead off single to Miguel Tejada and walked Lance Berkman before Lee deposited his 14 th homer of the season to left field.
From the fifth inning on, the Cardinals would manage just five more hits. In the eighth and ninth innings, the Cardinals would get a runner on first with one out, but each time the inning ended with a double play. In the eighth, LaTroi Hawkins got Molina to ground into aDP and in the ninth Jose Valverde picked up his 10 th save of the season getting Chris Duncan to ground into a game ending double play.
No damage in the standings. Houston gets to within three games with Milwaukee who lost at Pittsburgh. The Cubs bombed by Philadelphia 10-1, still two back.
