The Rocket fired 62/3rds innings of two hit ball as the Astros’ beat the Cardinals 5-3 for their second straight win in St. Louis. Berkman, Everett and red-hot Hidalgo each hit solo shots, and Jeff Kent‘s two run double in the seventh gave the Stros a comfortable three run lead. Things got a bit testy in the bottom of the ninth when Dotel gave up back to back dingers to Edmonds and Rolen, but he finally settled down and put down the uprising.
Wade Miller pitches as the Stros go for the sweep on Wednesday afternoon before returning home for a four game weekend series with Milwaukee.
In other Astros news, Jared Fernandez, he of the remarkable 54 earned run average, was sent down to AAA New Orleans and replaced on the roster with Mike Gallo, a 26 year old lefty reliever in his second MLB season who performed reasonably well for the Stros during the second half of last season and who had pitched well in his first few appearances this season at New Orleans.