You knew the general jackassery would break out sometime today. It was the 5th, as Backe was getting tired, his control was off all day, not only walks but wild in the zone, and the offense (but not the defense) was giving him no support.
Kazuo leapt high and hauled down a liner headed for a lead off single. But a base hit, a walk, a liner to the gap in right, a looping throw to the cutoff by Pence, followed by a hard throw but up the line from Kazuo allowed Pujols to score from first, the Cards took the lead 2-0. Glaus followed with a 2 run homer to center and then the histrionics began.
With two outs and Yadier Molina at the plate, there was a brief argument with the home plate ump Jim Joyce about who called time out when Backe was into his windup. Joyce yelled out that he called time, not Molina. Of course you did Jim, Molina can only request time out, only you can allow it. But Backe, frustrated over the homerun, frustrated that the Cardinals had been pulling this calling time all day, and frustrated that he was having to look at the Cardinals, rared back and heaved the next pitch, a high fastball. But, over the plate. Lohse threw a similar pitch at Bourn the next inning, he rocked back and smiled. Well, Molina had a fit. Benches cleared, everybody danced.
After that, every reliever that came in got a personal mound visit from Jim Joyce making sure everyone had on their big boy panties.
The Astros did manage to score the first run of the game when, in the 2nd, Berkman grounded slowly up the middle and beat the errant throw. He advanced to 2nd on a groundout, and with two outs and a 3-2 count, Loretta singled to short left. Berkman hustled around and challenged Schumaker. The throw went right, Berkman went left and was safe.
That was pretty much the offense. Backe missed a lead off double in the 3rd when his liner headed for the left field corner hit the 3b bag and bounced high and behind short. The only other offensive outburst happened in the 4th. Pence walked and Loretta lined sharply to 2nd for the dp. That was it. After that is was 15 up and 15 down.