St. Louis, MO (Best E Casino) - Hunter Pence had his first career five-hit game and drove in a pair of runs as the Houston Astros steamrolled the St. Louis Cardinals, 8-2, in the opener of a three-game series at Busch Stadium.

Miguel Tejada belted a two-run home run for the Astros, winners in three of their last four. Carlos Lee had two runs batted in, while Kaz Matsui went 3- for-5 and scored twice.

Shawn Chacon (2-0) hurled seven solid innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and striking out seven to earn the win.

Albert Pujols went 4-for-4 with a solo homer for the Cardinals, who have dropped two straight after a three-game win streak. Brian Barton also homered in the losing effort.

Braden Looper (6-4) was roughed up in the loss, surrendering eight runs -- seven earned -- on nine hits and three walks in 4 1/3 frames.

The Astros pounced on Looper immediately, scoring four times in the top of the first, and never looked back.

Singles by Michael Bourn and Matsui and a walk to Lance Berkman loaded the bases with one out. Lee lined a single to center that plated Bourn, and while Matsui initially hesitated at third, Rick Ankiel's throw to the plate sailed into the screen behind home plate to bring Matsui in. Pence followed with an infield single that scored Berkman, and Lee crossed the plate on Ty Wigginton's groundout.

The Astros added another run in the third, as Berkman lined a one-out single to left, moved to second on Lee's grounder to third and scored when Pence grounded a single to left.

St. Louis finally showed signs of life against Chacon in the fourth, as Pujols got the Cards on the board with a one-out solo homer to left. Ankiel followed with a double, but Pence threw him out at the plate while trying to score on Troy Glaus' single to right.

The Astros poured it on in their next at-bat, as Matsui led off with an infield single when Looper was slow to cover the bag at first. Tejada immediately made Looper pay, smashing a line drive just over the wall in left for a 7-1 lead.

A walk to Berkman, a double by Pence and an intentional walk to Wigginton loaded the bases with one out and chased Looper for Russ Springer, who promptly walked J.R. Towles to force in another run before Springer settled down to end the inning.

Barton drilled a one-out, pinch-hit solo homer to left in the home half, but Chacon and the Houston bullpen shut the door over the final innings.

Game Notes

Barton's homer was his first of the year...Tim Byrdak and Oscar Villarreal each threw a scoreless inning of relief for Houston...The Astros were 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position...Wandy Rodriguez (1-0) -- who was activated from the 15-day disabled list after the game -- gets the start for Houston on Wednesday against Adam Wainwright (4-2). To make room for Rodriguez, the Astros designated reliever Dave Borkowski for assignment.