St. Louis, MO (Best E Casino) - Adam Wainwright allowed just one run over eight brilliant innings, as the St. Louis Cardinals topped the Houston Astros, 6-1, in the middle contest of a three-game series at Busch Stadium.

Wainwright (5-2) surrendered just one walk and struck out eight as the Cardinals snapped a two-game losing streak. Yadier Molina and Cesar Izturis each drove in a pair of runs, while Brian Barton and Brendan Ryan each collected a pair of hits and scored a run.

Ty Wigginton hit a solo home run to provide the scoring for the Astros, losers in two of their last three. Wandy Rodriguez (1-1), making his first start since being placed on the disabled list with a left groin strain April 20, took the loss after surrendering six runs -- three earned -- on six hits in 4 2/3 frames.

Defensive problems led to a big inning for the Redbirds in the bottom of the first. After Ryan stroked a leadoff single to center, Kaz Matsui threw away a force attempt on Rick Ankiel's grounder, sending Ryan to third and Ankiel to second. An intentional walk to Albert Pujols loaded the bases, and a walk to Ryan Ludwick forced in the game's first run. One out later, Molina chopped an RBI groundout to third, and with Barton at the plate, a wild pitch sent in Pujols for a 3-0 lead despite just one hit in the inning.

Wigginton pulled back a run in the top of the second, launching a two-out homer to left.

Rodriguez kept St. Louis in check until the fourth, when Molina and Barton strung together back-to-back singles to start the inning. Wainwright struck out attempting to bunt, but Izturis drilled a liner to deep left-center that fell for a two-run triple.

The Cardinals tacked on another run in the fifth, as Ludwick lined a one-out single to left, moved to second when Troy Glaus grounded out, and came around to score when Molina singled to left to end Rodriguez's night with Houston down 6-1.

Houston never threatened until an error by Izturis on a J.R. Towles' grounder and a walk to Michael Bourn gave the Astros a two-out threat in the eighth, but Wainwright got Matsui to ground out to first to end the frame.

Chris Perez worked a scoreless ninth to finish off the win.

Game Notes

The Cardinals won despite a combined 1-for-13 performance by Ankiel, Pujols, Ludwick and Glaus...The Cardinals left six men on base, while the Astros stranded four...Bourn hit his third triple of the season for Houston...Kyle Lohse (4-2) takes the mound for the Redbirds on Thursday against Roy Oswalt (4-4) in the series finale.