ST. LOUIS, United States (AFP) - Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen belted back-to-back homers off Dan Miceli in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift St. Louis to a 6-4 victory over Houston in game two of the National League Championship Series.
The victory gave the Cardinals a two games to none lead in the best-of-seven series.
Houston pitcher Pete Munro, making his first career postseason start, carried a 4-0 lead into the fifth before surrendering a two-run blast to Larry Walker. Pujols followed with a single, prompting manager Phil Garner to call on Chad Harville, who had given up a three-run double to Jim Edmonds in Game One.
Harville again provided little relief, serving up a two-run shot to Rolen that gave St. Louis a 4-3 edge.
Houston failed to capitalize on singles by Jose Vizcaino and Brad Ausmus that opened the sixth, but Morgan Ensberg - who swatted his first career playoff homer in the fourth - plated Lance Berkman with a single in the seventh to draw the Astros even.
Berkman had led off the inning with a double, then stole third before Ensberg's single past a pulled-in infield. Solo home runs by Carlos Beltran in the first and Ensberg in the fourth had ignited Houston early, but the Astros couldn't keep the Cardinals offense in check late.
Miceli (0-2) replaced Dan Wheeler to start the eighth and was greeted by Pujols' fourth homer of the postseason as St. Louis took a 5-4 advantage. Rolen followed with his second of the game, marking the first time players have hit back-to-back homers in club postseason history.
"More important than two homers - two hits," said Rolen, who ended a 1-for-18 postseason slump. "I'm seeing it a little better now."
Julian Tavarez tossed a perfect eighth for the win. Jason Isringhausen worked around a pair of walks in the ninth for his second save of the playoffs.
The game was delayed for 28 minutes by rain, and was eventually played in a steady drizzle, not ideal conditions for such an important game, said Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell.
"It's even for both teams, but nobody wants a sloppy game in a league championship series," he said.
The series now moves to Houston for game three on Saturday, when Roger Clemens faces Jeff Suppan.