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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
HOUSTON (AP) -- Wade Miller had been thinking about this day for
a long time.
Miller gave up four hits over eight innings for his first major
league win and Mitch Meluskey's two-run homer highlighted a
five-run first, leading the Houston Astros over the St. Louis
Cardinals 10-5 Saturday.
|  | | Wade Miller realized a childhood dream with his first major-league victory Saturday against the Cardinals. |
"It's great to get this one behind me, I've been dreaming about
this since I was a kid," Miller said. "They got me that big lead
in the first and if you can throw fastballs in the right spots, you
can get some outs."
Miller (1-2) struck out nine and walked two and didn't complain
when manager Larry Dierker removed him after eight innings.
"I think after the sixth and seventh when I struggled to get it
over the plate, he decided it was long enough," Miller said. "I
threw 130 pitches. I was at my pitch count so I was done. It was
the right decision."
Miller allowed a leadoff double to Fernando Vina in the first
inning and then retired 17 of the next 18 batters. Vina wound up
scoring on Jim Edmonds' sacrifice fly.
"He was really good and we were really good everywhere,"
Dierker said. "The hitters got him the lead early and gave Wade
some breathing room."
In the sixth, Miller walked Edgar Renteria and Edmonds hit his
28th home run.
Houston got 17 hits, the most allowed by Cardinals pitchers this
season and tying the Astros' biggest hit total. Jeff Bagwell, who
homered, and Chris Truby each had three hits.
Pat Hentgen (9-7) was trying to win his sixth straight decision
but he allowed five runs and seven hits in the opening inning.
Bagwell, Richard Hidalgo and Truby each drove in a run and Meluskey
hit his 11th homer.
Hentgen, whose previous loss was to Kansas City on June 5,
allowed a season-high nine hits in the first two innings. He had
not given up more than eight hits in his 19 previous starts this
season.
Hentgen pitched three innings, allowed 10 hits and six earned
runs.
"His (Hentgen) pitches didn't hit the right spots and the
Astros have a good lineup," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said.
"Sometimes that's what happens."
La Russa was more impressed with Miller.
"He pitched a strong game and they scored a lot of runs for
him," La Russa said. "He got the lead and I guess that gave him
some confidence."
Miller struck out Thomas Howard three straight times.
"Everything he threw -- changeup, curve, fastball -- they were all
good," Howard said. "And he threw me some very good pitches twice
on 3-2. I can't speak for anyone else but I faced him three times
and I got three different looks. He started me with three different
pitches.
"They got him a lead and he was able to relax and get into a
good rhythm."
The Astros got four more runs in the fourth off Mark Thompson.
Eduardo Perez hit an RBI double in the Cardinals ninth. He was
to miss Sunday's game with an excused absence -- he was going to
Cooperstown, N.Y., to see his father, Tony, inducted into the Hall
of Fame.
Game notes
Cardinals outfielder Ray Lankford missed games Friday and
Saturday while attending his brother's funeral. He was expected
back in time for Sunday's series finale. ... Hentgen has a 64-36
career road record. He is 6-3 on the road this season. ... Miller
also got his first major league hit, a single in the first inning.
It was his fourth major league at-bat.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
St. Louis Clubhouse
Houston Clubhouse
RECAPS
Kansas City 8
Detroit 5
Detroit 10
Kansas City 6
(2nd game)
Oakland 10
Anaheim 3
Seattle 13
Texas 5
Baltimore 8
Toronto 2
Tampa Bay 12
NY Yankees 4
Boston 8
Chi. White Sox 6
Minnesota 10
Cleveland 6
NY Mets 4
Atlanta 0
Cincinnati 7
Arizona 3
Houston 10
St. Louis 5
Chicago Cubs 3
Milwaukee 2
San Francisco 5
Los Angeles 2
Montreal 17
Florida 7
Pittsburgh 2
Philadelphia 1
Colorado 9
San Diego 4
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