MLB: St. Louis 3, Houston 1

Matt Holliday hit two solo homers Saturday, helping the St. Louis Cardinals record a 3-1 win over Houston.

Holliday finished with three hits on a day when Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols, who leads the majors in homers with 34, went 0-for-4.

Julio Lugo drove in a run with a seventh-inning sacrifice fly and Yadier Molina had three hits for the Cardinals, who have won five of six.

Winner Chris Carpenter (10-3) went the distance, giving up a run and eight hits with no walks and five strikeouts.

Houston’s run scored on Carlos Lee’s fourth-inning homer, his 18th this season.

Jeff Fulchino (4-4) was the losing pitcher when starter Wandy Rodriguez left after four innings with a hamstring injury.

Humberto Quintero had three hits and Lee two for the Astros, who have lost four straight.