Cardinals Shutout Again

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A couple of firsts helped propel the Houston Astros' 13-0 drubbing of the St. Louis Cardinals.<br/><br/>Matt Albers pitched shutout ball into the 8th inning for his first major league

Saturday, May 5th 2007, 3:17 pm

By: News On 6

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A couple of firsts helped propel the Houston Astros' 13-0 drubbing of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Matt Albers pitched shutout ball into the 8th inning for his first major league win. And fellow rookie Hunter Pence hit a grand slam for his first career homer.

The defending World Series champion Cardinals have now lost six of seven and sit last in the National League Central. They allowed 6 or more runs for the 12th time in their first 28 games and were shut out for the fourth time.

Albers, who pitched on three days' rest, evens his record at 1-1.

St. Louis starter Kip Wells drops to 1-6 with the loss.

The Cardinals announced during the game that ace pitcher Chris Carpenter will undergo arthroscopic elbow surgery early next week and will be sidelined for at least three months.