Astros rookie starter,
Wandy Rodriguez , coming off his first career win in his previous start last Saturday, was roughed up early during a
dreadful home debut, allowing 9 runs in 2 2/3 innings, including a grand slam by Reggie Sanders and a two-run dinger by Cards pitcher Jason Marquis, part of the 8 runs scored in the third inning.
``I had a lot of bad luck,'' Rodriguez said afterwards, his voice barely above a whisper.
The Astro refused to give up, chipping away at the early lead as they totaled 12 hits and 9 runs, including home runs by
Morgan Ensberg and
Lance Berkman, but in the end it was
not enough to overcome the early deficit.
``We thought we had a blowout and then they came pounding back,'' said Sanders, who had a career-high three doubles and tied a career best for hits. ``They always give us a fight.''
``There were several times when the game could have gotten away from us,'' Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. ``But our pitching staff was able to make some key pitches to stop them.''
The Astro will attempt to avoid the sweep by the division leading Jakes Sunday at 1:05, Mark Mulder vs.
Roger Clemens. The two hurlers will square off for the second time this season. Mulder fired a 10-inning, four-hitter in a 1-0 win over Houston on April 23. Clemens also did not surrender a run, allowing four hits in seven innings.
