HOUSTON, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Brian Bogusevic raced home on a 10th-inning bunt single Monday and the Houston Astros dealt a blow to St. Louis' playoff hopes with a 5-4 victory.
With the game tied 4-4 in the 10th, Bogusevic led off with a pinch-hit double off Octavio Dotel (3-3). The next batter, Jason Bourgeois, reached first Dotel's error with Bogusevic going to third.
Angel Sanchez then laid down a bunt toward first base and Bogusevic easily scored the game-winner.
Mark Melancon (8-4) earned the victory with two scoreless innings and Matt Downs blasted a two-run homer for Houston, which took the opener of a season-ending, three-game series.
Jamie Garcia was tagged for four runs on four hits in a four-inning effort for St. Louis, which remained one game behind Atlanta in the National League wild-card race with two games to play.
The Braves' magic number to clinch the wild card was reduced to two with the Cardinals' loss.
