MLB: St. Louis 2, Houston 1

ST. LOUIS, April 15 (UPI) -- Brad Penny allowed only three hits and one unearned run over seven innings Wednesday as the St. Louis Cardinals edged winless Houston 2-1.

Penny (1-0) walked none and struck out four, while Albert Pujols got an RBI single in the first inning for St. Louis, which sent Houston to its eighth straight loss to start the season.

Brett Myers (0-1) pitched well but took the hard-luck loss for Houston, allowing only one earned run on four hits and two walks in seven innings.

Houston's 0-8 start is its worst since 1983, when the team began the season with nine consecutive setbacks.