But the Astros, it seems, had other ideas.

The Astros, second to the Cards in the Pony NL standings, pulled out a 9-2 win to remain mathematically alive in the race for the division crown. The Cardinals top the pack at 11-4 with the Astros a game back in the loss column at 9-5.

Steven Krach tossed three shutout innings to get the win, giving up a lead-off single before retiring nine straight batters—six on strikes. Kevin Wyllie flipped three innings of scoreless relief, giving up just one hit and no walks while fanning four.

Colby Moore singled, doubled and tripled and Wyllie singled and tripled to lead the Astros at the plate. Cole Meleyco also tripled in the win.

Matt Ellis led off the game with a single for the Cardinals and Mason DaSilva tripled in the fourth. Matthew Petrillo singled home a run in the seventh, then scored on a single by Nathan Blaney to account for the Cards' only scoring.

The Astros were coming off of a 5-2 win over the Giants. Patrick Lewicki struck out seven and walked none as he fired four four-hit innings in the win. Krach fanned five in three innings of scoreless relief. He gave up just a hit and a walk.

The Astros scored all five of their runs in the third, most of it coming on a couple of two-run singles by Greg Loper and Wyllie.

Ray Salazar and Karl Winkelman each singled and doubled for the Giants.

The Cardinals scored a run in the ninth to beat the Cubs 5-4 in extra innings on Tuesday. Ellis walked and stole second and third in the ninth for the Cards. After Ryan Ginanni beat out an infield hit, Danny Politi pushed Ellis across with the game-winning run on a squeeze bunt.

Patrick McClain flipped five innings and Ellis threw four, the two combining for a three-hitter. McClain struck out five and Ellis fanned six. Ellis singled and tripled in the win.

David Martini struck out 10 in seven strong innings on the hill for the Cubs. Kyle Jury and Alex Clark each doubled in the loss.

In other recent action, the Red Sox scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to pull out a thrilling 5-4 win over the Yankees.

David Burkhart, Robbie Roesser and Matt Ditullio each walked to load the bases in the seventh. Andrew Gomez drove in a run with a ground out before Noah Henry walked to refill the sacks. An out later, Andrew Clark knocked his second single of the game and the Sox rolled from there to the win.

Ryan Black struck out 11 in six strong innings of pitching and Gomez picked up the win with an inning of relief.

Will Kapp tripled, Mark Hasson had two hits and Jackson Dallas drilled a two-run double for the Yankees.

Clark singled and tripled, Gomez and Black had two hits apiece, Henry ripped a run-scoring double and Billy Jones and David Cardinale each doubled for the Red Sox in a 13-7 win over the Yanks.

Zack DeLap ripped a two-run homer in the third and also singled for the Yanks.

A base-loaded triple by Salazar, a double by Tim Sweeney and a two-run single by Kevin Connelly sparked a six-run rally in the second to lead the Giants past the Cubs 10-2.

Sweeney and Winkelman had two hits apiece in the game and Sweeney was the winning pitcher, striking out eight in five innings of work. Mike McCarthy and Tyler Plane each doubled.

Martini singled and doubled, C.J. Olsen had two hits and Chris Vertin doubled.

Pony standings (as of May 31): National—Cardinals 11-4, Astros 9-5, Giants 8-7, Cubs 5-9; American—Orioles 8-4, Red Sox 7-9, Yankees 6-9, A's 3-11.