Astros 2, Cardinals 0: Bud Norris allowed two hits in 7 1/3 scoreless innings to halt a 12-game losing streak as host Houston averted a three-game sweep and slowed St. Louis' drive for a postseason berth.

Norris (6-14) struck out seven in his longest outing of the year to end a franchise record-tying drought of 18 winless starts and avoid matching the team record of 13 straight losses held by Jose Lima. Wilton Lopez got the final five outs for his eighth save.

Jose Altuve homered and Brett Wallace had an RBI single in a two-run fourth as the Astros snapped the Cardinals' four-game winning streak and ended a string of 10 consecutive losses to the Cardinals.

Chris Carpenter (0-1) was solid in his second start of the year, allowing two runs on four hits in six innings. The Cardinals lost for only the second time in 10 games and saw their lead for the National League's second wild card cut to 3 1/2 games over Milwaukee and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Norris won for the first time since May 21, when he started the season 5-1, and improved to 8-5 lifetime against the Cardinals. ... Astros RF Scott Moore is 8-for-16 during a five-game hitting streak. ... Cardinals 3B David Freese sat out his third straight game with a sprained ankle suffered prior to the series opener.