HOUSTON, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Hunter Pence cracked a three-run homer Wednesday and the Houston Astros dealt the St. Louis Cardinals their fifth straight loss, 5-2.
Pence erased a 2-1 deficit in the fifth inning when he belted a curve ball from Jeff Suppan (1-7) just fair into the left field upper deck, scoring Jeff Keppinger and Brian Bogusevic ahead of him, sparking the Astros to a three-game sweep of the reeling Cards.
Nelson Figueroa (4-2) was credited with the win after holding St. Louis to two runs on six hits over five innings.
Five Houston relievers combined for four scoreless innings, with Brandon Lyon notching his 11th save of the year.
Suppan allowed four runs in five innings for the Cardinals, who suffered their eighth setback in nine games and failed to make up ground on National League Central-leading Cincinnati.
They entered the contest trailing the Reds by 7 1/2 games.
