St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Brad Penny delivers a pitch against the Houston Astros. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Brad Penny delivers a pitch against the Houston Astros. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Cardinals’ starter Brad Penny gave up a first inning run on two hits to begin the game. From that point on, he allowed just one more baserunner as he pitched seven strong innings to help give the Cardinals a 2-1 win.

Penny finished with just three hits allowed and four strikeouts before handing a 2-1 lead over to the bullpen. Kyle McClellan and Dennys Reyes worked out of the eighth inning where they combined to give up a hit and walk two, while Ryan Franklin pitched a perfect ninth for his third save.

The Cardinals scored both of their runs in the first inning as well off of Brett Myers, who only allowed four hits and one of those runs were earned while striking out seven. Albert Pujols had an RBI single. Once again, just like in the home opener, the first three Cardinals reached base after Skip Schumaker walked and Ryan Ludwick singled ahead of Pujols.

Matt Holliday grounded into a double play and Myers should have been out of the inning when Colby Rasmus hit a groundball to shortshop Tommy Manzella, but his error allowed Ludwick to score from third which proved to be the game winner.

The Cardinals will all wear 42 today to honor Jackie Robinson as they go for the sweep in a Thursday afternoon game at Busch Stadium.