Franklin blows save, Astros win

Miguel Tejada hit a single to left field with two outs and two runners on scoring the winning run as Houston scores two runs in the 9th inning off Cardinals’ closer Ryan Franklin to beat St. Louis 4-3.  Houston and Chicago are now just one game behind St. Louis.

Mark DeRosa hit another home run in the fifth of Roy Oswalt, his third in two games.  With the score tied 1-1 in the seventh, St. Louis scored two off Oswalt when Ivan Rodriquez dropped a ball at the plate allowing Ryan Ludwick to score. Then, the Cardinals scored on a sac fly.

Houston pulled to within 3-2 scoring a run off Chris Carpenter.  He went eight innings allowing eight hits and two walks while striking out five.  In the ninth, Franklin gave up a single to Rodriquez and a double to Chris Coste.  He advanced to third on a single.  With first and third and no outs, Franklin got a pop and then a ground ball to Joe Thurston at second who threw home to get Coste.

Down 1-2 in the count, Tejada worked the count to 2-2 and fouled off a pitch before singling to left for the game winner.

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