ST. LOUIS – Loss No. 100 didn't appear to register in the Houston Astros clubhouse. They're too busy concentrating on making things tough for a string of postseason contenders.
"That's why we're here right now. We're trying to match up," interim manager Tony DeFrancesco said after a 4-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals and Kyle Lohse on Tuesday night. "We're doing everything we can.
"Their games mean a lot," DeFrancesco said. "Our game is we try to knock them out."
Beginning Aug. 28, the Astros' final seven series features six opponents in the postseason hunt. They need nine wins in the final 14 games to avoid topping last season's franchise-record 106 losses.
It'll be tough for a roster filled with prospects. The kids appear unaware that they're closing in on a dubious record.
"What is that?" cleanup man Justin Maxwell said. "None of us think about that. We just try to win every day. Go out there and do our best for our teammates."
Lohse threw seven scoreless innings for his 15th victory and contributed an RBI double for the Cardinals, who stayed in front for the second NL wild card.
Fernando Abad (0-5) had a career-best six strikeouts for the Astros. They're 8-8 this month, taking three of four from the Phillies before coming to St. Louis.
"We've got a young team, with inexperience, and some mistakes are going to be made," DeFrancesco said. "But overall I was pleased. The effort is there."
Daniel Descalso got a key early RBI and Jon Jay had two hits and two RBIs for the Cardinals, coming off a 2-5 trip but with a favorable upcoming schedule with the next eight against lowly Houston and Chicago.
With 14 games to play the defending World Series champions are 1½ games ahead of the Dodgers, rained out at Washington, and 2½ games ahead of the Brewers.
Lohse (15-3) matched his season best for victories set in 2008 with St. Louis, on his fourth attempt while stranding two runners in the third and seventh. A .281 career hitter entering the season, he raised his average this year to .100 with his third RBI.
Due for free agency after the season, Lohse leads the majors with a winning percentage of .833 and is among the National League leaders with a 2.71 ERA.
Abad allowed three runs in five innings, the longest of his five career starts — all this year — and is 1-10 with a 5.12 ERA in parts of three seasons with Houston. Brett Wallace had an RBI single off Mitchell Boggs in the eighth.
The Cardinals had four extra-base hits, three of them in succession with one out in the fifth. Pete Kozma tripled, Lohse doubled and Jay doubled to make it 3-0.
They missed a chance for more when Carlos Beltran struck out and Jay was thrown out at third. It was the second time one of St. Louis' best hitters whiffed in the clutch and Astros catcher Jason Castro turned it into a double play. Matt Holliday struck out and Jay was thrown out at second to end the first.
Yadier Molina singled with one out in the second and scored on a two-out single by Descalso, who had been batting just .104 with runners in scoring position (8 for 77) on the year and was 1 for 16 on the trip. Descalso batted .294 with runners in scoring position as a rookie.
Jason Motte worked the ninth for his 36th save in 43 chances.
NOTES: RHP Chris Carpenter threw in the bullpen and remained on track to make his first start of the season Friday at Chicago. Carpenter underwent surgery to relieve nerve compression in his shoulder in late July and at that time had been hopeful of pitching next year in the final year of a two-year contract. ... Lance Lynn (15-7, 3.95) faces Lucas Harrell (10-9, 3.86) in the second game of the three-game series Wednesday night. ... Rams DE Robert Quinn threw out a ceremonial first pitch. ... RHP Jake Westbrook, who has missed one start with pulled side muscle, played catch Monday and could return well before the end of the regular season. ... Lohse is 10-8 against Houston and has not allowed more than three runs in any of his 18 career starts against the Astros. ... The Cardinals are 28-17 against left-handed starters.
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