Perhaps the focus should not be Albert Pujols' assault on Barry Bonds' single-season home-run record of 73, but more on Chicago Cubs OF Hack Wilson's RBI mark of 191. Pujols has 64 RBIs in 51 team games (he has missed two), putting him on a pace for 203 for the season. Eleven of his homers have given his team the lead, and 13 of his 25 have been hit at Busch Stadium.

The Cardinals didn't muster much offense other than in the seventh against Houston but got strong relief from RHPs Adam Wainwright and Jason Isringhausen, who worked a scoreless inning apiece, Isringhausen posting his 17th save in 19 appearances.

Isringhausen wasn't flawless, but then he generally isn't. He pitched around a leadoff bloop single in the ninth to record his 11th consecutive save.

REPLAY: The Houston Astros walked John Rodriguez highly unintentionally ahead of 1B Albert Pujols in the seventh inning Monday. Pujols' three-run homer with two outs gave the Cardinals a 3-1 win, their first over Houston this season.

RHP Jason Marquis (7-4) took over as the third winningest starter in the league at 7-4 by holding the Astros to one run and three hits in seven innings.

--CF Jim Edmonds missed a third straight game with a lower abdominal problem that might be considered a sports hernia. There is no timetable for his return.

--RHP Chris Carpenter, who has bursitis under his right shoulder, will be placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday and RHP Anthony Reyes will be recalled from Triple-A Memphis to face Houston. Reyes threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings at Kansas City some 10 days ago.

--SS David Eckstein extended his hitting streak to 11 games (19-for-46, .413) and with two hits, had his 22nd multi-hit game of the season.

--CF So Taguchi has made the last four starts in that position and has hit safely in all four, going 8-for-14.

--OF Larry Bigbie had a pinch single in the eighth and is 8-for-10 against Houston in his career.