Cardinals 9, Astros 5
Adam Wainwright pitched seven innings of one-run ball to become the National League's second 12-game winner as host St. Louis extended its winning streak to four games.
Matt Holliday belted a two-run homer and Matt Carpenter went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored to lift the Cardinals to their seventh straight win over Houston. Allen Craig collected three hits and two RBIs and David Freese also had three hits as St. Louis opened a 1 1/2-game lead over Pittsburgh atop the National League Central.
Wainwright (12-5) struck out nine and allowed five hits to improve to 13-1 lifetime against the Astros. Although Wainwright limited an opponent to one earned run or less for the ninth time, Edward Mujica had to come on in the ninth to squelch a rally for his 24th save.
Astros right-hander Bud Norris (6-8) was roughed up for seven runs on 11 hits over five innings as Houston lost for the ninth time in 11 games. He appeared to roll his ankle on a sacrifice fly by Carpenter in the second inning.
Holliday launched his 13th homer in the first inning to stake Wainwright to a 2-0 lead before Carpenter doubled in two runs and scored on Carlos Beltran's single in the fourth for a commanding 6-0 edge. J.D. Martinez had an RBI single in the sixth inning and Jake Elmore and Jose Altuve added run-scoring singles in a four-run ninth for the Astros.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Cardinals C Yadier Molina, who entered the night leading the NL in batting, returned to the lineup after missing three games with inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee and went 0-for-2 with a walk. ... Craig extended his hitting streak to nine games and has hit safely and 17 of his last 18. ... St. Louis traded RHP Mitchell Boggs to Colorado in exchange for the Rockies' No. 4 international signing bonus slot. The team also released INF Ty Wigginton.