Astros rally past Cardinals 6-5 as Boggs blows his first save

HOUSTON -- Bill Hall's ninth-inning RBI single gave the Houston Astros a 6-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night.

Brian Bogusevic came home on a wild pitch by closer Mitchell Boggs (0-1) earlier in the inning. He singled before advancing to second on a passed ball. Michael Bourn bunted and reached first on an error by Boggs that got Bogusevic to third to set up the score.

Angel Sanchez and Hunter Pence both singled to load the bases and set up Hall's one-out winner.

Lance Berkman put the Cardinals on top 5-4 with a ninth-inning RBI double off Brandon Lyon (2-1) before Hall ruined his homecoming.

Lyon allowed two hits and a run in the ninth for the win.

Pence homered and Chris Johnson drove in a pair of runs for Houston.

Berkman played 12 seasons with the Astros before being traded to the Yankees last year. He signed with the Cardinals in the offseason.

He got a standing ovation on his first at-bat and singled before he was picked off trying to steal second. Though the crowd was overwhelmingly supportive, there were a smattering of boos each time he came to the plate and two men sitting beside each other had dueling signs addressing his return. One read: "Berkman's a traitor" and the other said: "Berkman is the man!"

Brett Wallace singled in the eighth inning, but pinch-runner Jason Bourgeois was picked off at first before Jason Motte struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

Daniel Descalso's third extra-base hit and second double of the game drove in Yadier Molina and tied it at 4-4 in the eighth inning. Descalso entered the game with an 0 for 9 streak.

Reliever Jeff Fulchino retired Mark Hamilton in the eighth before Albert Pujols pinch hit. Pujols was out of the lineup as a precaution after experiencing mild tightness in his right hamstring Sunday. The Astros intentionally walked him, but Houston was able to limit the damage when Fulchino retired Colby Rasmus on a pop up in foul territory.

Houston starter Bud Norris yielded seven hits and three runs -- all unearned -- with six strikeouts in six innings. Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia allowed six hits and four runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Angel Sanchez singled in the sixth inning before Lee reached on an error by third baseman David Freese with one out. Garcia loaded the bases by walking Hall before an RBI single by Brett Wallace made it 3-2 and chased Garcia.

Miguel Batista allowed a two-run single to Johnson that put Houston on top 4-3 before retiring Humberto Quintero and Joe Inglett to end the inning.

Freese reached on an error by shortstop Sanchez with two outs in the fourth inning. Molina followed with a single to right field before Nick Punto drove in Freese with a double to right field to put St. Louis up 1-0. Descalso made it 3-0 with a triple.