Schumaker's Single in 9th Lifts Cards

Skip Schumaker singled to left to score pinch-runner Cesar Izturis in the bottom of the ninth inning today, giving the St. Louis Cardinals a 4-3 victory that snapped the Houston Astros' six-game winning streak. Schumaker singled off Wesley Wright, who relieved Dave Borkowski (0-1) after Borkowski walked leadoff batter Brian Barton to start the ninth. After Barton was forced by Adam Wainright, Brendan Ryan singled to chase Borkowski.

Wainright (3-1) struck out six and allowed five hits, including three homers. Lance Berkman hit two of them, his 22nd career multihomer game. Houston jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first when Kaz Matsui hit his first home run of the season into the Cardinals bullpen off Wainright. St. Louis took the lead in the third when Albert Pujols doubled to deep right-center field off Roy Oswalt. (More MLB stories.)