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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
HOUSTON (AP) -- Just when the Houston Astros were beginning to
wonder whether they could counter Jim Edmonds and the St. Louis Cardinals, along came Richard Hidalgo and Yorkis Perez.
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Ailing McGwire out again
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St. Louis slugger Mark McGwire sat out the
Cardinals' loss to Houston on Wednesday night, the third game
he has missed this season because of back pain.
"I don't like the way it's feeling," said McGwire, who missed
the first two games of the season against the Chicago Cubs.
Manager Tony La Russa said he hoped to have McGwire back for
Thursday night's game in Colorado.
"We're going to pay attention to it," La Russa said.
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Hidalgo homered, doubled twice and drove in three runs as the
Astros beat St. Louis 7-5 Wednesday night, ending the Cardinals'
four-game winning streak.
"It was a relief to get a win, it was also a relief to see the
Cardinals aren't perfect," Astros manager Larry Dierker said. "We
knew if we could get Edmonds out and come up with some offense we
might be able to finally get a win against those guys."
Hidalgo hit his fourth home run and also walked as the Astros stopped a three-game slide. He hit a tiebreaking, two-run double in the seventh.
Edmonds, leading the majors with a .536 (15-for-28) batting
average, had his fourth homer and a double, giving him nine
consecutive hits. His streak ended in the seventh when he struck
out looking against Perez (1-0).
Perez backed Edmonds off the plate with his first pitch before
getting him on a 3-2 slider.
"I think part of the problem we're having is their hitters were
too comfortable," Perez said. "I wanted to claim my part of the
plate."
Edmonds walked in the sixth to tie the club record for
consecutive times reaching base (12) set by Chick Hafey in 1929.
"I'm seeing the ball well and I'm putting it in play," Edmonds
said. "It's just one of those things in baseball. Baseball is a
game of streaks and I was in the middle of one. It's nice, it's
special but I don't want to bring too much attention to myself."
Moises Alou and Tim Bogar also homered for the Astros and Thomas
Howard connected for the Cardinals. Mark McGwire and J.D. Drew did
not start for St. Louis.
"Edmonds just destroyed us in this series," Bogar said. "It's
only April, but we needed to get one win from those guys just so
they'll have it in the back of their minds the next time we meet
that we can beat them."
During this six-game homestand at new Enron Field, the Astros
and their opponents combined for 24 home runs.
With the game tied at 5 in the seventh, Hidalgo doubled off the
left-field wall against Dave Wainhouse (0-1). Roger Cedeno, who
reached on shortstop Edgar Renteria's throwing error, and Bill
Spiers, who walked, both scored.
"Last year I tried to pull the ball too much," Hidalgo said.
"This year I'm trying to hit it more to center. I think that has
really helped me."
Said Dierker: "He's the only guy we've got who's hot right now.
And he's hotter than hot."
Howard homered for the second straight night, a two-run shot
that scored Edmonds and put the Cardinals ahead 5-4 in the sixth.
Howard also had an RBI triple.
Bogar's home run in the Houston sixth tied it.
Billy Wagner pitched the ninth for his third save.
Cardinal starter Andy Benes went five innings, allowing five
hits and four runs. He struck out nine.
"It's always satisfying if your club plays every game hard and
you win a series against a good club on the road," St. Louis
manager Tony La Russa said.
Houston's Octavio Dotel lasted six innings. He gave up five runs
and nine hits.
Edmonds homered in the second. Hidalgo and Alou hit consecutive
home runs in the bottom half.
The Cardinals took a 3-2 lead in the fourth. Edmonds lined
Dotel's first pitch off the wall in right-center and scored when
Howard followed with a triple to right. Craig Paquette singled home
Howard.
Game notes
The Astros entered Wednesday's game four games behind St.
Louis, the farthest the team has been out of first place since the
final day of the 1996 season. ... In their last four games the
Cardinals have hit 15 homers. ... Paquette started in place of
McGwire at first base.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
St. Louis Clubhouse
Houston Clubhouse
RECAPS
NY Yankees 8
Texas 6
Cleveland 5
Oakland 0
Boston 7
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Houston 7
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