ST. LOUIS, May 19 (UPI) -- Kyle McClellan allowed five hits over eight innings Thursday and helped the St. Louis Cardinals beat Houston 4-2 and capture their fourth straight victory.
McClellan (6-1) surrendered both Houston runs and struck out five without a walk. Fernando Salas gave up a hit and struck out two in the ninth for his fifth save.
Gerald Laird's two-run double in the second put the Cardinals in front to stay. Allen Craig had a solo homer in the sixth to give St. Louis a 3-1 lead and Ryan Theriot tacked on an RBI single in the seventh.
The Astros have lost five in a row and 10 of their last 12. They have just 15 wins this season, three fewer than any other team in the National League.
J.A. Happ (3-5) gave up three runs on four hits in six innings to take the loss.
