HOUSTON (AP) – Lance Lynn pitched seven innings to earn his 17th win, rookie Pete Kozma hit a two-run homer and the St. Louis Cardinals strengthened their grip on a playoff spot with a 6-1 win over the Houston Astros on Monday night.

Yadier Molina added a solo shot as the Cardinals moved 3 1/2 games in front of Milwaukee and Los Angeles for the second NL wild card. The Brewers lost 12-2 at Washington earlier in the day, and the Dodgers were off.

Lynn (17-7) struck out nine and yielded allowed one run and five hits.

Kozma extended St. Louis’ lead to 3-0 with his second major league homer in the second, a day after hitting his first one.