Redbirds rally to win home finale 4-3

~ St. Louis scored three runs in the ninth and defeated the Astros.

By R.B. FALLSTROM

The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS -- Rick Ankiel and the St. Louis Cardinals put together a memorable home finale at the expense of Houston closer Brad Lidge.

Ankiel's two-run triple off Lidge capped a three-run rally in the ninth inning and the Cardinals beat the Astros 4-3 Sunday night.

Albert Pujols also drove in a run in the ninth with a pinch-hit single. Last year's World Series winners won for only the fourth time in 18 games, two days after they were eliminated from postseason contention.

Ankiel, breaking out of a slump that coincided with reports linking him to human growth hormone, had his second straight three-hit game. Pujols' single, a liner off the left-field wall, gave him 99 RBIs.

Kelvin Jimenez (3-0) got the last out in the ninth after Houston had taken the lead on a two-run homer by Carlos Lee off closer Jason Isringhausen.

Pujols missed his fifth straight start with a strained left calf muscle and can't run.

Lidge, who blew his eighth save in 24 chances, also walked Pujols on four pitches to force in a run with two outs in the ninth of the Astros' 6-4 victory on Friday.

Lidge ran into trouble quickly Sunday, and failed to record an out. He surrendered a leadoff single to Miguel Cairo and walked pinch-hitter Ryan Ludwick before Pujols hit a long single off the left-field wall. Ankiel fouled off a pair of 1-2 pitches before hitting a liner into the right-field corner.

Brian Barden, pinch running for Pujols, easily scored the winning run.

Roy Oswalt allowed an unearned run in seven innings and Craig Biggio singled to move into a tie for 20th place on the career list with 3,055 hits for the Astros. Houston fell to 10-14 under interim manager Cecil Cooper.

Todd Wellemeyer allowed one hit in five scoreless innings for the Cardinals, who were 4-7 on their final homestand.

Lance Berkman's liner ticked off Cardinals shortstop David Eckstein's glove for an error to start the ninth. Lee followed with his 31st homer, easily clearing the left-field wall on a 1-1 pitch from Jason Isringhausen.

Isringhausen has 30 saves in 32 chances but has struggled lately in non-save situations. He has allowed four runs in 2 2/3 innings his last three outings.