Jake Westbrook pitched 6 innings of one-run ball to pick up his ninth victory of the season.
David Freese is congratulated by teammates after homering in the sixth inning of the Cardinals 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros Tuesday night. (AP Photo)
Saint Louis–Albert Pujols hit his 23rd home run of the season, driving in RBI 61 & 62 and Jake Westbrook pitched six strong innings to help the Cardinals to a 3-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Tuesday .
Pujols smacked the first pitch he saw from Houston starter Brett Myers over the left-centerfield wall. It appeared that the ball had hit off the top of the wall and drew protests from Astro outfielders Carlos Lee and Michael Bourn. Video replay, however, confirmed that the ball cleared the wall, giving the Cardinals an early 2-0 lead.
Tonight’s home run marked the third time in the previous six games that Pujols has homered in the opening frame.
After Lee drove in Bourn to cut the Cardinal lead in half in the third inning, David Freese tacked on an insurance run in the sixth inning with his fifth homer of the season.
Saint Louis has now won five of its last six games and, with the result of tonight’s game, will hold onto at least a share of the NL Central lead.
Chris Carpenter will look to get back to .500 Wednesday night, he will be opposed by former Cardinal-killer Bud Norris. First pitch is slated for 7:15.
Odds-and-Ends
-Skip Schumaker went 2-4 Tuesday night pushing his average this month to .368 (21-for-57)
-Lance Berkman was pulled in the fifth inning after going 0-for-2, snapping an 8-game hitting streak.
-Matt Holliday was scratched from the starting lineup just prior to first pitch due to a stomach virus. Tony LaRussa told reporters he plans to give Holliday a couple days to rest.
-Colby Rasmus went 1-3 as rumors concerning his future continued to swirl.
-Fernando Salas picked up his 19th save of the season striking out the side in the final frame.
Stats courtesy ESPN.com
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