Cardinals, Astros in Title Showdown

There is one game to go, and the National League Central race still has not been decided.

Jim Edmonds homered and had three runs batted in Saturday as the St. Louis Cardinals regained the division lead by defeating the Houston Astros, 10-6, at St. Louis.

While both teams clinched postseason berths when San Francisco lost Friday night, the division title will be decided today, with the winner of today’s game also winning the Central and earning home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Cardinals (93-68) took a one-game lead over the Astros (92-69), who lead the season series, 8-7.

If the Astros win today, the teams would finish with identical records and Houston would win the division title because of a better head-to-head record.

Craig Paquette, who filled the No. 6 slot usually held by the slumping Mark McGwire, was four for five with a run batted in.

McGwire struck out in all four at-bats in Friday night’s 2-1 Houston victory and is batting .188 with 29 homers and 64 RBIs.

“I’m fried and embarrassed,” said McGwire, alluding to the possibility of retiring.

Atlanta 7, Florida 3--One night after clinching their 10th consecutive division title, the Braves gave most of their regulars the day off at Atlanta. The Braves also discovered catcher Javy Lopez will miss the first round of the playoffs and could be out for the entire postseason because of a sprained left ankle.

In other games:

Rickey Henderson pulled within one hit of 3,000 with one day left in the season, and Phil Nevin had his first three-homer game, including a grand slam, as the San Diego Padres beat the Colorado Rockies, 10-4, at San Diego. ... Julian Tavarez took a no-hitter into the eighth inning, Sammy Sosa hit his 63rd homer and Roosevelt Brown had seven runs batted in to lead the Chicago Cubs over the Pittsburgh Pirates, 13-2, at Chicago. ... The Philadelphia Phillies swept a doubleheader from the Cincinnati Reds, 2-1 and 5-1, getting their first sweep in Cincinnati since May 26, 1963. ... Jeromy Burnitz hit a game-winning RBI single in the ninth inning as the Milwaukee Brewers rallied to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5-4, at Milwaukee.