Cardinals, Astros Look to Increase Leads

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ST. LOUIS - The two National League Division Series resume today, while the American League series take a day off.



The St. Louis Cardinals host the San Diego Padres this afternoon, while the Houston Astros visit the Atlanta Braves tonight. St. Louis and Houston have 1-0 leads in the best-of-five series.

Pedro Astacio throws for the Padres this afternoon against Mark Mulder for the Cards. The Astros-Braves matchup pits Roger Clemens against John Smoltz.

Yesterday, Morgan Ensberg collected five RBI while leading the Astros to a 10-5 win over the Braves in game one of this year's NLDS.

Ensberg hit a two-run single that put the Astros ahead to stay. He also drew a bases-loaded walk in a five-run eighth that put the game out of reach.

Craig Biggio had two hits, scored three times and drove in a run to help Andy Pettitte pick up the win. Pettitte earned his 14th postseason victory, tying Braves hurler John Smoltz for the most all time. The lefty gave up Chipper Jones' solo homer and Andruw Jones' two-run blast but just two other hits.

Pettitte also doubled and scored on Ensberg's RBI single in the seventh, which put the Astros ahead 5-3.

Losing pitcher Tim Hudson was reached for five runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings.

The Chicago White Sox came back from four runs down to post a 5-4 win over the World Champion Boston Red Sox last night, and take a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-five American League Division Series.

The Chicago White Sox haven't won a postseason series since knocking off the New York Giants in the 1917 World Series. They are one victory from ending that drought after pulling off a 5-4 comeback win over the Boston Red Sox.

Tadahito Iguchi slammed a three-run homer that capped the Chisox's five-run 5th inning. It came two batters after second baseman Tony Graffanino let a potential inning-ending double-play grounder sneak through his legs.

The Red Sox carried a 4-0 lead into the fifth before falling. Aaron Rowand doubled home the White Sox's first run before scoring on Joe Crede's single.

Manny Ramirez hit a two-run single for the Red Sox, who collected just three hits over the final six innings.

Winning pitcher Mark Buehrle allowed eight hits before Bobby Jenks picked up a two-inning save. David Wells allowed just two earned runs over six and two-thirds but took the loss.

Game three is tomorrow at Fenway Park. Tim Wakefield is the Red Sox's scheduled starter. Freddy Garcia will start for the White Sox.

Orlando Cabrera and Bengie Molina helped the Los Angeles Angels square their AL Division Series at a game apiece. Cabrera hit a tiebreaking, two-run single in the seventh inning as the Angels beat the New York Yankees 5-3. Cabrera also scored the tying run on Molina's RBI single in the sixth, two innings before Molina hit a solo homer for the second straight night.

Juan Rivera also hit a solo homer after the Angels fell behind 2-0.

Losing pitcher Chien-Ming Wang allowed just one earned run over 6 2/3 innings. But his throwing error led to Cabrera's go-ahead hit.

Kelvim Escobar picked up the victory with two hitless innings of relief. Francisco Rodriguez surrendered Hideki Matsui's ninth-inning homer before getting the save

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