Homers lead Astros over Cardinals 11-6

HOUSTON — Carlos Lee’s grand slam was one of three homers that lead the Houston Astros to an 11-6 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night.

The Astros led 5-1 before Lee’s shot to the Crawford Boxes in left field in the seventh inning. It was his second grand slam of the season and his second straight day with a home run.

Geoff Blum followed Lee’s home run with his own to right field to push Houston’s lead to 10-1.

Hunter Pence added a two-run homer and Miguel Tejada drove in three runs to help the Astros beat the NL-Central leading Cardinals for the second straight night.

Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez (10-6) allowed four hits and one run in seven innings for his 10th win of the season, his most since going 10-10 in 2005.

Mark DeRosa had solo homers in the second and eighth innings and Ryan Ludwick added a three-run shot in the Cardinals five-run eighth.

DeRosa’s first homer halted Rodriguez’s scoreless streak at 18 innings. It was the first home run as a Cardinal for DeRosa, who was traded from Cleveland in June.

Michael Bourn singled in the third inning before stealing his NL-best 35th base of the season. He pushed Houston’s lead to 3-1 when he scored on a single by Tejada.

Chris Coste, playing in place of injured Astro Lance Berkman, drove in a run in the fourth that made it 4-1. Berkman is expected to sit out until at least Friday with a calf strain.

Kaz Matsui was hit in the knee with a pitch while batting in the fifth inning and the game was stopped for several minutes while trainers and manager Cecil Cooper checked him out. He finished his at-bat and remained in the game until leaving before the eighth with a right knee contusion.

Bourn singled in the fifth and advanced to third on an error by Todd Wellemeyer before scoring on a single by Tejada.

Wellemeyer (7-8) allowed seven hits and five runs in 4 1-3 innings. P.J. Walters pitched two-plus innings and allowed four hits and six runs including the homers to Lee and Blum.

NOTES: Astros reliever Doug Brocail, on the disabled list with a hamstring strain, pitched a scoreless inning Monday night in a rehabilitation appearance for Triple-A Round Rock. “He came through it great, so it’s a big step in the right direction to get him back here as well,” Astros general manager Ed Wade said. … Astros RHP Chris Sampson, on the DL with muscle spasms, and his wife Heather welcomed their second son, Colt, late Monday night.