ST. LOUIS (AP) — Kyle Lohse pitched seven innings of three-hit ball to earn his seventh consecutive win and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Houston Astros 4-2 on Wednesday night. Lohse (13-2) gave up two runs and retired his last 14 batters while improving to 7-0 with a 2.21 ERA in 12 starts since he dropped a 3-2 decision against Kansas City on June 15. The Cardinals have won consecutive games to grab a half-game lead on Pittsburgh for the second wild-card spot in the National League. Mitchell Boggs worked a scoreless eighth and Jason Motte finished for his 29th save in 34 chances, completing a three-hitter.