Pujols lifts Cards over Astros

May 5, 2007, 3:10 GMT

St. Louis, MO - Albert Pujols hit a two-run double in the fifth inning to lift the St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-2 win over the Houston Astros in the opener of a three-game set at Busch Stadium.

Adam Wainwright (2-2) was charged with two runs on seven hits in six innings of work to pick up his first win in five starts and Chris Duncan went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the Cardinals, who stopped a five-game slide.

'We definitely needed this win,' said Pujols. 'You go through these tough times but you have to go make it through. This was a big game for us tonight.'

It was St. Louis' first home game since pitcher Josh Hancock's fatal accident on Sunday. The team honored him with a video montage and put his initials and uniform number in a black circle against the bullpen wall near an identical remembrance of Darryl Kile, who died in 2002.

Before the game, about a dozen teammates gathered near the warning track in center field beneath the video board during the Hancock montage, and the crowd observed a moment of silence.

'It was very difficult tonight but we need it to continue. We have to continue to battle and dedicate this season to him,' said Pujols.

Humberto Quintero and Carlos Lee each drove in a run and Woody Williams (0-5) dropped his third straight start as he was charged with three runs on five hits in six innings of work for the Astros, who had a two-game winning streak stopped.

Houston grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first as Morgan Ensberg worked a one-out walk, moved to third on Lance Berkman's single and crossed the plate courtesy of a sacrifice fly from Lee.

The Astros added another run in the fourth as Quintero punched a single up the middle to score Luke Scott.

The Cardinals, though, plated three runners in the fifth inning to take a 3-2 lead. With runners on first and second and two outs, Duncan knocked a single to center to score David Eckstein and Pujols followed with a double to left and Preston Wilson and Duncan crossed the plate.

Houston had a chance to tie the game in the sixth as Hunter Pence hit a one- out double, but with Adam Everett at the plate, Hunter Pence was caught trying to steal third.

Jason Isringhausen retired the last five Houston batters to pick up his seventh save of the season.

Game Notes

Houston left eight men on base...Ensberg committed his fifth error of the season...Houston outhit St. Louis, 9-5...Attendance was 44,117.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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