Drew ends his slump, keeps Cards on a roll

ST. LOUIS -- J.D. Drew snapped a 1-for-17 slump with a leadoff homer in the ninth inning as the St. Louis Cardinals won for the 11th time in 13 games, beating the Houston Astros 3-2 Wednesday night.

The Cardinals are 8-1 on the homestand with one game to go, the series finale on Thursday.

Drew, who didn't start the last two games because of his struggles, struck out as a pinch hitter in the seventh. In the ninth, hit a 3-2 pitch from Ricky Stone (2-2) well beyond the right-field wall, a drive estimated at 438 feet for his seventh homer of the season.

Dave Veres (3-3) pitched two scoreless innings as the Cardinals came from behind to win for the 17th time this season.

The Cardinals tied it at 2 in the eighth after the Astros' bullpen took over for Roy Oswalt, who continued a dominant May. Albert Pujols lined a single off Octavio Dotel to drive in Fernando Vina, who doubled to start the inning and advanced on a sacrifice.

The Astros left the bases loaded in the top of the ninth against Veres. Julio Lugo reached on third baseman Miguel Cairo's fielding error, Jeff Bagwell walked and Lance Berkman was intentionally passed before Brian Hunter hit a dribbler to the mound. The ball went between Veres' legs and he hit it twice with his foot before realizing where it was, catching Hunter at first in a disputed call by umpire Tim McClelland.

Manager Jimy Williams argued the call between innings.

Lugo hit his first home run and scored twice for the Astros, who have lost three in a row after winning seven straight.

Tino Martinez had two hits and two walks for the Cardinals, raising his average 10 points to .234.