St. Louis, MO (My Sportsbook) - Kyle Lohse tossed a three-hit shutout, retiring 24 straight batters at one point, to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-0 win over the Astros and complete a three-game sweep of Houston at Busch Stadium.

Lohse (2-0), a former two-time double-digit winner in the American League with the Minnesota Twins, fanned four batters to improve his ERA to 1.13 on the season. Lohse was 3-0 in four starts against the Astros last season, allowing 21 hits and seven runs in 26 innings.

"Kyle has really worked hard. He's a guy who has the talent and the perseverance to keep competing," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said.

Khalil Greene went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the Cardinals. Ryan Ludwick and Chris Duncan also had an RBI.

Wandy Rodriguez (0-1) pitched six innings in the start, giving up three runs on five hits. The 30-year-old Rodriguez also struck out four and walked three. Rodriguez made his first start on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs and allowed four hits and a run in six innings while getting a no-decision in the Astros' 3-2 win.

Kazuo Matsui, Hunter Pence, and Michael Bourn had a hit apiece for the Astros in a losing effort.

"We got to figure out a way to score some runs," Astros manager Cecil Cooper said.

The Cardinals got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning. Greene singled to left field to begin the frame. Following an Albert Pujols walk, Ludwick's single to left scored Greene. Pujols advanced to third, and Ludwick took second on the throw home. Duncan recorded the first out of the inning with a ground out, but Pujols scored on the play to put St. Louis ahead, 2-0.

St. Louis added a run in the home half of the fifth. A Greene single to center with two outs knocked in Colby Rasmus, who walked to leadoff the frame.

Lohse cruised through the game, retiring 24 straight batters at one point after allowing a leadoff single to Matsui to begin the game. Bourn started the ninth with a base hit. With runners on first and second, Lohse got Lance Berkman to fly out to end the game.

Game Notes

The Astros placed pitcher Doug Brocail on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a strained right rotator cuff. In a corresponding move, the club recalled pitcher Jeff Fulchino from Triple-A Round Rock...St. Louis was 8-7 versus the Astros last season...The Cardinals start a three-game set at Arizona on Monday...Houston will travel to Pittsburgh on Monday for the start of a three- game series.