Matt Holliday homers twice to help Carpenter, Cardinals beat Houston Astros 3-1

Holliday powers Cardinals past Astros 3-1

ST. LOUIS — Matt Holliday hit two solo homers, Chris Carpenter tossed an eight-hitter for his second complete game of the season and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Houston Astros 3-1 on Saturday night.

Holliday connected on the first pitch for each of his homers, hitting a drive to right off Wandy Rodriguez in the second and a shot to center against Jose Valverde in the eighth. He also singled in the fourth and is hitting .606 with 10 RBIs in nine games since he was acquired from Oakland on July 24.

Carpenter (10-3), who has won five consecutive decisions, struck out five and walked none in his first complete game since a 3-1 victory against Cincinnati on June 4. He allowed only one runner past first after Carlos Lee’s fourth-inning homer tied it at 1.

Carpenter also doubled and scored the go-ahead run on Julio Lugo’s sacrifice fly off Jeff Fulchino (4-4) in the seventh. Carpenter moved up on Humberto Quintero’s passed ball before Lugo’s deep fly to center.

Rodriguez left in the fifth with a strained right hamstring. Trainer Nathan Lucero tended to the left-hander in the top of the inning after he reached on a fielder’s choice. After a short talk with Lucero and manager Cecil Cooper, Rodriguez stayed in the game and was forced out at second when Michael Bourn hit a bouncer to shortstop.

Rodriguez, who has won a personal-best five consecutive decisions, didn’t come out for the bottom of the inning. He gave up one run and three hits.

NOTES: Bourn was thrown out by umpire Paul Emmel in the fifth after he was cut down trying to steal second. Bourn spiked his helmet on the ground, leading to the ejection. Replays indicted Bourn was safe. … Lee’s drive was career No. 299 and just the fifth homer Carpenter has given up all season. … Holliday has a hit in his first nine games with the Cardinals, one game short of the team record held by Charley Smith (1966) and Alvin Dark (1956). … Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols is batting .120 (3 for 25) against Rodriguez after going 0 for 2 against the lefty. It’s his worst average against any pitcher he’s faced at last 20 times.