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Sanders maintains streak to lead Cards past Astros
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-10-13 14:41
ST LOUIS, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Reggie Sanders continued his post-season hitting
spree with a two-run homer to lead the St Louis Cardinals to a 5-3 victory over
the Houston Astros in Game One of the NLCS on Wednesday.
Sanders, who recorded 10 RBI in the three-game sweep of the San Diego Padres
in the division series, staked St Louis to a 2-0 first inning lead they would
never relinquish to move 1-0 ahead in the best-of-seven series.
Game Two is also at Busch Stadium on Thursday.
Chris Carpenter, who dominated the Astros this season going 4-0 with a 1.85
era, delivered another rock solid performance yielding two-runs on five hits
over eight innings.
He then turned the game over to Jason Isringhausen, who came on in the ninth
to get the final three outs and the save.
Carpenter, a leading NL Cy Young award candidate, helped his own cause
driving in a run in the second inning.
Astros starter Andy Pettitte ran into problems even before the start of the
game when he was hit on the inside of his right knee with a line drive while
running the bases during batting practice.
The lefthander insisted he was fine, but was tagged early as the Cardinals
stormed to a 3-0 lead after just two innings.
David Eckstein led off the bottom of the first with a single to right then
two outs later, Sanders took a 1-2 offering and parked into the left field
stands.
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