Cards nip Astros

ST. LOUIS -- So Taguchi and Mark Grudzielanek each hit a two-run double, and the Cardinals' previously untouchable bullpen withstood a mid-game meltdown, squandering almost all of a seven-run cushion in an 8-7 victory over the Houston Astros on Friday night.

Starting pitcher Jason Marquis (3-0) had two hits and scored twice for the Cardinals, who have won seven of eight. But he labored through 5 2-3 innings, striking out eight and throwing 108 pitches. After leading 8-1 in the sixth, St. Louis needed four relievers to end the Astros' three-game winning streak.

The Cardinals' bullpen hadn't allowed a run in 17 1-3 innings over a nine-game span and entered this three-game series with a 3.34 ERA. St. Louis used four pitchers in the Astros' five-run sixth, when Randy Flores hit the only batter he faced with a pitch and Al Reyes gave up a three-run double to Adam Everett before Julian Tavarez got Jason Lane on a force play with the bases loaded to end the inning.

In the seventh, Tavarez gave up a home run to Morgan Ensberg that narrowed the gap to 8-7. Then Tavarez settled down, retiring six of the next eight hitters.

Jason Isringhausen worked a scoreless ninth for his sixth save in six chances.

Astros starter Brandon Duckworth (0-1) walked three and had a throwing error in the Cardinals' five-run second. Taguchi had a two-run double and scored on Yadier Molina's slow roller down the third-base line when Duckworth slipped on the wet grass and threw well wide of first base for a hit and an error.

Grudzielanek's two-run double plus a sacrifice fly by Jim Edmonds in the fourth made it 8-1.

The Astros benefited from three walks and two hit batters in the sixth, with Willy Taveras' two-run single chasing Marquis. He was charged with five runs and seven hits, but he won his third straight start.

Duckworth, making his second start of the season, allowed eight runs and eight hits in four innings with four walks and no strikeouts.

Notes: Cardinals pitchers hadn't allowed more than one run in an inning for five straight games. ... Ensberg, who had been 4-for-4 against Marquis, struck out in all three at-bats against the right-hander. ... Pujols made a nifty scoop of Tavarez's hurried one-bounce throw to first on Taveras' sacrifice bunt in the seventh, then got clipped on his left foot when Taveras crossed the bag. He limped around for a few seconds but stayed in the game. ... Lane was 0-for-4 with a walk after going 10-for-20 his previous four games. ... The Cardinals had homered in 10 straight games.