The St. Louis Cardinals are back in first place in the National League Central after beating the Houston Astros 4 to 3 last night at Busch.  A big night for the new Birds as Matt Holliday went four for four, scoring a run and driving in two.  Mark DeRosa homered for the seventh time in 11 games, and Julio Lugo tripled and scored a run. 

Houston got on the board first, but the Cardinals would tie the game in the fourth after Julio Lugo hit a triple and would score on a single by Holliday.  Houston would take the lead in the fifth after starter Mitchell Boggs gave up a single to Kazuo Matusi who later scored on a fielders choice.  The Cards would tie the score again in the seventh with the DeRosa home run. 

The Astros would take the lead one more time in the eighth after three singles off Brad Thomspon.  Once again, the Redbirds would answer this time scoring two runs in the bottom half of the inning.  Albert Pujols was hit by a pitch and would score on a double by Holliday.  Holliday would later score on a single by Rick Ankiel.  Ryan Franklin would come on in the ninth to get his 24th save of the season. 

Cards starter Mitchell Boggs, called up from Triple A to replace starter Todd Wellemeyer, walked five and struck out five over five innings of work.  Game two of the series is tonight as Chris Carpenter gets the start for St. Louis against Houston’s Wandy Rodriguez.  First pitch is 6:15.