Carpenter stuck on 21 after Cardinals fall to Astros

ST. LOUIS -- Morgan Ensberg had a tiebreaking double in the ninth inning, his fourth hit of the game, and the Houston Astros beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-6 Wednesday night to maintain a 2 1/2-game lead over Philadelphia in the National League wild card race.

With the score 6-6, Willy Taveras led off the ninth with his major league-leading 69th infield hit. He scored without a play on Ensberg's double into the left-field corner off Jason Isringhausen (1-2).

Houston swept a two-game series against the NL Central champions, finishing the season 5-11 against St. Louis, and will close the regular season with a four-game series at home against the Cubs that starts today.

Philadelphia (85-74) is off today, then finishes with three games at Washington.

Lance Berkman and Mike Lamb homered for the Astros, who at 87-71 are a season-best 16 games above .500. Chad Qualls (6-4) worked a perfect eighth, and Brad Lidge finished for his 40th save in 43 chances.

Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter failed in his fourth bid to win his 22nd game. He is 21-5, one win behind Dontrelle Willis, who is 22-10.

Carpenter allowed six runs, five earned, on nine hits in six innings.