(AP) -- Joe Kelly opened his bid for a spot inthe St. Louis Cardinals' starting rotation with two hitless innings, and Adron Chambers hit a three-run homer in Friday's 8-8 tie against the Houston Astros.
Among three candidates to replace the injured Chris Carpenter in the Cards' rotation, Kelly walked one hitter in each inning.
Daniel Descalso and Pete Kozma had two hits and drove in two runs each for the Cardinals, who have won five straight.
Chris Carter homered for the Astros, a fifth-inning drive offcloser Jason Motte. Brandon Barnes and Brandon Lair also homered for Houston.
With Houston trailing by two runs in the ninth, Brandon Lairdn homered off Victor Marte leading off and Rene Garcia singled with one out.
After a throwing error by shortstop Ryan Jackson, pinch-runner Delino DeShields scored on Marte's wild pitch.
(Copyright ©2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKTVO