Cardinals Sweep Astros

Pinch hitter Carlos Beltran snapped a sixth-inning tie with a two-run double and Allen Craig hit a three-run home run, powering the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-4 victory Thursday that completed a season sweep at home over the Houston Astros.

Beltran's double put St. Louis up 5-3, rewarding Jaime Garcia (5-7) for keeping it close and putting the Cardinals 2½ games up for the second NL wild card with 12 games remaining. They took care of business against the lowly Astros, who absorbed their 102nd loss.

The Cardinals were 6-0 at home against Houston, their first season series sweep in St. Louis since 1996.

Bud Norris (5-13) allowed five runs on five hits and five walks in 5 1-3 innings for Houston.