Pineiro wins 7th straight decision, Cardinals jump Oswalt early in 3-2 win over Astros

Pineiro, Cardinals beat Astros 3-2

ST. LOUIS — Joel Pineiro worked eight strong innings to win his seventh straight decision and the St. Louis Cardinals jumped on Roy Oswalt early in a 3-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Wednesday night.

Pineiro (13-9) allowed two runs on seven hits and Mark DeRosa’s two-run double capped a three-run first for the NL Central leaders, 15-3 in their last 18 games. Matt Holliday added an RBI single and Albert Pujols had two hits after entering the game only 5 for 33 against Houston this season.

The Cardinals have won Pineiro’s last 10 starts and 11 of the last 12. The right-hander is 7-0 with a 2.65 ERA in 10 outings since July 3, and walked none for the 13th start while striking out five.

He helped himself with several nice fielding plays, stabbing his red glove out to start a double play against Jeff Keppinger to the second.

Carlos Lee had three hits and an RBI and Lance Berkman was 2 for 4 with an RBI for the Astros, who have lost 14 of 18 on the road. They’ve dropped 11 of their last 14 in St. Louis.

Ryan Franklin got the last two outs for his NL-leading 34th save in 36 chances, stranding Lee at third, and has earned a save in 10 straight appearances.

St. Louis stranded eight runners in the fourth through sixth against Oswalt (7-5), who allowed 10 hits in six innings but no runs after the first. Oswalt had been 4-0 in his previous nine starts, but missed a chance at winning five straight decisions — a streak he’s put together every season.

Four of the first five Cardinals got hits to open the first. The Astros began the fourth with four straight hits, with RBIs from Berkman and Lee cutting the deficit to a run.

The Cardinals had the bases loaded with one out and a full count on Pineiro in the fourth before Oswalt recovered to strike out the pitcher and then got Skip Schumaker to ground out. They loaded them again in the fifth before Yadier Molina grounded out on a 2-0 delivery.

St. Louis is 28-3 since July 3 in games started by Adam Wainwright (15-7), Chris Carpenter (14-3) and Pineiro.

NOTES: Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan rejoined the team after missing Tuesday’s game due to personal reasons. Manager Tony La Russa can’t remember Duncan, his aide since 1986, missing any other games. … Cardinals RHP Kyle Lohse, on the DL with a groin injury, stretched with full range of motion and ran before Wednesday’s game. Lohse said he could make his next start on Saturday but was put on the DL as a precaution. … Cardinals game notes list John Smoltz as the starter Friday and Mitchell Boggs going Saturday but manager Tony La Russa said those slots could be reversed if the 42-year-old Smoltz needs an extra day. … Pineiro leads the majors with 1.0 walks per nine innings.