The St. Louis Cardinals dropped a winnable game in the first of three road contests against the Houston Astros Tuesday night, falling 6-5 in a sloppy ninth inning that saw each team briefly commandeer the lead. In the top of the ninth the Cardinals untied the 4-4 game in dramatic fashion, getting back-to-back doubles from Matt Holliday and returning ex-Astro Lance Berkman to lead off the inning before they found themselves suddenly unable to hit Brandon Lyon.
The bottom of the ninth was less concise, but twice as effective. Cardinals non-closer closer Mitchell Boggs allowed a single to Brian Bogusevic to lead off the inning, and mishandled Michael Bourn's sacrifice bunt for an error that left Bogusevic on third base with nobody out. Boggs threw a fastball inside to Angel Sanchez that Yadier Molina was unable to handle, scoring the tying run, and then two consecutive singles to Berkman in right field loaded the bases. After Carlos Lee made an out to some Ryan Franklin-esque hometown boos, Bill Hall singled in the winning run.
It was a rough game for Boggs, who'd been solid in his first three save opportunities. Daniel Descalso was the unlikely offensive hero for the Cardinals, in the losing effort; the light-hitting utility infielder picked up two doubles, a triple, and a walk, nearly doubling his offensive output for the season to date.