The Cardinals were riding pretty high before their 20-6 loss to the White Sox, June 20. It seems like they’ve had a tough time bouncing back to dominating form, accumulating a 3-12 record since then. The Cardinals continued their struggles in a 4-2 loss to the Astros, Thursday.

Mike Lamb homered in the first inning giving the Astros a 1-0 lead. Things were quiet offensively for both teams until the fourth inning when both teams brought two runs across.

Jim Edmonds drove in the only Cardinals runs, using some torque in his swing to drive a ball out of the park for a two-run homer. Edmonds was the only St. Louis player to have multiple hits in the game. He tied Mark McGwire for fifth place on the Cardinals’ all-time home run list with 220.

The Astros came right back. Cardinals starter Sidney Ponson walked Chris Burke and hit Lance Berkman to put the first two hitters on board. Burke later scored on an Aaron Giles fielding error of the bat of Preston Wilson. Another free pass issued by Ponson loaded the bases creating a potentially disastrous inning. The right hander got Morgan Ensberg to hit into a double play that brought in a run but also put out a fire that could’ve blown wild. Ponson escaped the jam allowing only two runs, prompting high fives from his teammates in the dugout.

Despite the Houdini act by Ponson in the fourth, he couldn’t avoid being tabbed with the loss after six innings of work surrendering three runs –one earned – on four hits and striking out four.

Houston starter, Taylor Buchholz, got the win. He lasted six innings as well, giving up two runs on three hits. Both pitchers gave up home runs. Closer, Brad Lidge, retired the final four outs to earn the save.

The Astros have won five of its last six games.