McGwire Continues to Slump

Mark McGwire didn’t get a home run, and the Houston Astros didn’t get a title.

McGwire went hitless in two at-bats and left because of minor back spasms after four innings Sunday night in the Cardinals’ 3-2 come-from-behind win over Houston, which stopped the Astros’ winning streak at eight and kept their magic number at one.

“I’m not very happy with that result,” Astro Manager Larry Dierker said. “I was really looking forward to clinching it. It was one of those games where we got close and almost cracked it but we didn’t get it done.”

McGwire, who hasn’t homered in five games since getting No. 62 on Tuesday night, is one for 14 since connecting off Steve Trachsel to break Roger Maris’ mark. Chicago’s Sammy Sosa homered twice Sunday against Milwaukee to tie McGwire.

“He got hot this weekend and hit a bunch out,” McGwire said. “He’s got 62 and it’s awesome.”

McGwire hurt his back in the first inning.

“He was running to first base after his first at-bat and it felt stiff,” Cardinal Manager Tony La Russa said. “We’ll just have to check and see if he can play tomorrow. The last time it was three days. It’s my opinion that it’s not as bad as in San Diego.”

McGwire grounded to shortstop in the first and fourth innings. St. Louis said he left as a precautionary measure.

Fernando Tatis, batting in McGwire’s No. 3 spot, hit a two-run double off Doug Henry in the eighth inning as St. Louis rallied from a 2-1 deficit.