MLB: St. Louis 1, Houston 0

The tremendous battle of high-quality pitchers saw the teams combine for just six hits.

St. Louis scored the only run of the game in the first on a single by Brendan Ryan and a double by Albert Pujols.

Wainwright (15-7) struck out five and did not allow a walk in pitching the Cardinals to their third straight win and their eighth victory in 10 games.

Rodriguez (12-8) allowed three hits and struck out six in seven innings.

Ryan Franklin walked Lance Berkman on four pitches with two out in the ninth before picking up his 33rd save.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.