Astros Tie Cardinals in Battle for Central

In a matter of a minutes, the St. Louis Cardinals lost Mark McGwire’s home run record and fell into a tie for the National League Central lead.

Lance Berkman hit a game-tying home run in the eighth inning and a go-ahead run-scoring double with two outs in the ninth of the Houston Astros’ 2-1 victory Friday night at St. Louis.

The victory wasn’t sealed until Billy Wagner got Placido Polanco to hit into a game-ending double play with the bases loaded. Houston had lost six consecutive.

The Cardinals, who had won seven of eight and 16 of 19, need to win the last two games of the season-closing three-game series to repeat as Central champions.

Mike Jackson (5-3) had a walk and two strikeouts in the eighth and Wagner got his 39th save in 41 chances.

Arizona 5, Milwaukee 0--Albie Lopez pitched a three-hitter against the Brewers at Milwaukee, giving the Diamondbacks at least a share of the NL West title.

Tony Womack and Steve Finley homered for Arizona. Lopez (4-7) did not give up a hit through five innings and struck out eight for his first victory in six starts.

Colorado 4, San Diego 0--Rickey Henderson went 0 for 4 to remain two hits shy of 3,000 and his Padres lost to the Rockies at San Diego as Larry Walker and Todd Helton hit homers on consecutive pitches. Henderson went hitless for the fourth time in five games as he tries to become the 25th player to join the 3,000-hit club.

Pittsburgh 3, Chicago 2--Kevin Young hit a go-ahead, sixth-inning homer and the Pirates defeated the Cubs at Chicago despite Sammy Sosa’s 62nd homer. Sosa’s solo homer leading off the bottom of the fourth gave him 100 extra-base hits, a number reached earlier this season by Barry Bonds and Todd Helton.

Montreal 8, New York 6--Lenny Harris got the 150th pinch-hit of his career, tying Dodger Manny Mota’s all-time record, but a five-run fourth was enough for the Expos at New York.

Philadelphia at Cincinnati, ppd.--The game between the Phillies and Reds was postponed because of rain and will be made up today as part of a doubleheader.

Tony Perez, the Hall of Fame player who came out of the front office in May to manage the Florida Marlins, said he won’t return to the field in 2002. Perez is going back to his former job as special assistant to General Manager Dave Dombrowski. “I feel OK,” Perez said. “I made my decision. I feel good that I will still be with the Marlins like I was before.” ... Backup catcher Wiki Gonzalez and the San Diego Padres agreed to a four-year contract extension through 2005, with a club option for 2006 .... Montreal Expo right-hander Tony Armas will miss his final start of the season after being hit in the thumb by a comebacker.