Freese, Molina power Cards to 5-0 victory over Houston

ST. LOUIS -- David Freese and Yadier Molina both connected for their 20th home run of the season, and Lance Lynn threw 6 1-3 shutout innings to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-0 win over the Houston Astros on Wednesday night.

The Cardinals, who have won seven straight against Houston, moved two games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the race for the second wild card spot in the National League. Milwaukee is 2 1-2 games back..

St. Louis has won three in a row for the first time since a four-game streak from Aug. 21-24.

The Cardinals have five players with at least 20 homers for the first time in franchise history. Carlos Beltran (29), Matt Holliday (27) and Allen Craig (21) already hit the milestone.

Lynn (16-7), in his second start following a demotion to the bullpen, leads the staff in wins. He allowed three hits, struck out five and walked two in a 102-pitch stint.

Cardinals Yadier Molina rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run off Astros starting pitcher Lucas Harrell during the fourth inning Wednesday in St. Louis. (Jeff Roberson ~ Associated Press)

Freese hit a two-run homer off Lucas Harrell (10-10) in the second inning. Harrell, winless in six starts, gave up three runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked one.

Craig led off the second with a single to set the stage for Freese's shot. The Cardinals are 16-3 when Freese homers.

Molina homered in the fourth with one out to push St. Louis' lead to 3-0.

Lynn retired nine consecutive batters after Jose Altuve's double to start the game. The All-Star was removed from the rotation after an Aug. 24 start that gave him a 6.56 ERA for the month. Lynn made six relief appearances before returning to the rotation last Thursday at the Los Angeles Dodgers. He gave up one run and five hits in six innings of a 2-1 win.

Jason Motte recorded his 37th save in 44 opportunities. Motte entered the game in the ninth inning with the bases loaded and one out, and ended the game by striking out Chris Synder and Jimmy Paredes. Mitchell Boggs had struck out the side in the eighth on 12 pitches.

The Cardinals tacked on a pair of runs in the eighth on successive hits by Jon Jay, Beltran and Holliday, and a sacrifice fly by Craig.

Noteworthy

* St. Louis RHP Jake Westbrook completed a successful bullpen session before the game. Westbrook, who strained a right oblique muscle on Sept 8, will throw again on Friday. He is hoping to rejoin the rotation next week.

* Houston, which has used 11 rookies this season, has the youngest active roster in the majors, averaging 26.3 years of age.

* The Astros are 8-9 in September after rough stretches in August (5-22) and July (3-24).

* Former St. Louis outfielder Jim Edmonds was in attendance.

* Cardinals LHP Jaime Garcia (4-7, 4.24 ERA) will face Bud Norris (5-12, 4.93) in the series final on Thursday afternoon. Norris is 7-4 with a 2.61 ERA in 14 career starts against St. Louis.