HOUSTON -- Wandy Rodriguez pitched seven shutout innings as the Houston Astros defeated the Cardinals 3-0 on Tuesday at Minute Maid Park.

The Cardinals went the first 14 seasons of manager Tony La Russa's tenure with the team without being shutout in back-to-back games. Tuesday's loss assured that it has now happened twice this season.

Chris Carpenter allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits through seven innings.

The Cardinals lost for the seventh time in eight games.

The Cardinals brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but pinch-hitter Randy Winn failed to check his swing and struck out for the final out of the game.

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ASTROS SCORE THREE ON CARP

HOUSTON -- The Astros sent nine batters to the plate in a three-run fourth inning that was prolonged by an error but undone by a triple to the hill in center field.

Hunter Pence roped an 0-1 fastball from Chris Carpenter to the hill that sits 436 feet away from home plate at Minute Maid Park. Pence's shot scored Michael Bourn (reached on an error) and Angel Sanchez (singled) for a 2-0 lead. Pence then scored on a single past an drawn-in infield by Chris Johnson.

Carpenter allowed three hits and five base runners in the inning. He got a would be double-play ball from Brett Wallace, but shortstop Brendan Ryan dropped the transfer at second. That got the second out of the inning. Carpenter did not allow another run, btu he had to face three more batters before he collected the third out.

Wandy Rodriguez has allowed the Cardinals two hits through six innings. The Cardinals have not scored a run in 15 innings at Minute Maid Park, and they have only four hits.

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TLR TALKS LINEUP

HOUSTON -- La Russa explained that he was going to sit Colby Rasmus today as a way to ease him back from a calf strain, not because there was a lefty on mound for Houston. He decided against sitting Rasmus today because the center fielder came out of Monday's game feeling good and, La Russa said, it wasn't like anyone on the Cardinals had to run the bases or anything against J.A. Happ.

"It wasn't a real active game," La Russa said. "We went to bat. We came back. We got worked over pretty good."

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"THIS IS THE CLUB WE HAVE"

HOUSTON -- GM John Mozeliak said the team the Cardinals have is the team the Cardinals are going to have from here to wherever it takes them. A search for a lefthanded reliever ran into waiver troubles and lost a measure of urgency in the past two days with positive health reports from Dennys Reyes.

The team will activate Reyes and Jeff Suppan tomorrow. Nick Stavinoha and Matt Pagnozzi will also join the team. More could be called up once Memphis' season ends -- whether it's in the playoffs or in the coming week. Allen Craig and Tyler Greene figure to be in the next wave of promotions.

"At this point," Mozeliak said, "this is the club we have to go with."

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ASTROS LINEUP LOOKS FAMILIAR

HOUSTON -- Houston is going with the same lineup, spots one through eight Xerox'd straight from last night's card:

1. Bourn, CF

2. Sanchez, 2B

3. Pence, RF

4. C Lee, LF

5. C Johnson, 3B

6. Wallace, 1B

7. Manzella, SS

8. Castro, C

9. Rodriguez, P

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JAY, RAZ ATOP LINEUP

HOUSTON -- St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa openly mused Monday afternoon that center fielder Colby Rasmus would likely get Tuesday off, missing Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez, and return to the lineup -- the middle of the lineup, that is -- on Wednesday.

Scratch that. Rasmus is starting and setting the table today.

Jon Jay and Rasmus, both lefthanded hitters, are atop the Cardinals' lineup today as they attempt to avoid a seventh loss in eight games and the certaintly of a third losing series on this road trip.

In his previous 12 starts, Rodriguez is 7-2 with a 1.79 ERA and a .212 batting average against. The Astros' lefty has been an equal-opportunity pitcher this season -- just like last season -- and that would be a primary reason behind La Russa's U-turn on putting Rasmus in the lineup. Or, really any of his lefties in the lineup for tonight's game at Minute Maid Park. Rodriguez vs.

... LHBs ... .260 BA, .308 OBP, .382 SLG

... RHBs ... .266 BA, .331 OBP, .402 SLG

The Cardinals' lineup, as posted this afternoon in the clubhouse:

1. Jay, RF

2. Rasmus, CF

3. Pujols, 1B

4. Holliday, LF

5. Molina, C

6. Feliz, 3B

7. Schumaker, 2B

8. Ryan, SS

9. Carpenter, P

Houston's lineup will be posted later, as will news from the clubhouse once it opens to the media.

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