The Astros avoided history yesterday by snapping a seven-game winning streak, beating the Cardinals 5-1 in St. Louis.

The club had been in danger of matching its worst start ever, an 0-9 opening stretch in 1983, after suffering two consecutive series sweeps and falling twice to St. Louis.  The Astros halted the losing streak at eight behind a sweet pitching effort from Bud Norris and the bullpen, who combined throw a six-hitter. 

Norris also chipped in from the batter’s box, driving in the game’s first RBI.  Outfielder Michael Bourn continued to be Houston’s most consistent offensive producer in the early season, extended his hitting streak to seven games by going 2-for-4.  Bourn scored the game’s go-ahead run in the third inning.

The Astros tuned Cardinals reliever Mitchell Boggs up in the 8^th for three runs, finally securing the club’s first victory of the year.

“The big thing was to come through with the big hits today,” Astros manager Brad Mills said. “We hadn’t been able to do that, but the guys really did a good job of coming through.”

Mills had his pitchers to thank for his first big-league win as a manager.  Norris improved to 3-0 against the Redbirds with the victory, giving up four hits and three walks through five innings.  Norris elicited groans from Cardinals fans by striking Albert Pujols out twice.  Norris stayed tough even after an embarrassing fielding error by Carlos Lee cost him an unearned run in the 4^th.

““I just stuck to my game plan and made pitches and got outs,” Norris said.”

Lee and the other veteran hitters for Houston stayed cold.  The Venezuelan slugger is batting .086 on the season thus far.  Hunter Pence is batting .121.  Kaz Matsui is hitting .095.  Houston may have avoided matching its worst start ever, but those bats are going to have to wake up if the team is to avoid further indignities.