HOUSTON, 20 October 2004 — Jeff Kent’s three-run homer in the ninth inning gave Houston a 3-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals Monday to move the Astros within one game of reaching the World Series for the first time in their 43-year history.

The victory was the third straight for the Astros and put them up 3-2 in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series after losing the first two games in St. Louis.

Kent’s blast ended a classic pitching duel in which the two starters gave up one hit apiece.

Brandon Backe no-hit the Cardinals for 5 2/3 innings before second baseman Tony Womack singled to right field in the sixth. He left after eight frames and was replaced by Brad Lidge, who tossed a hitless ninth to get the win.

Woody Williams of St. Louis also pitched well, shutting the Astros down with a lone single by Jeff Bagwell in the first inning before Jason Isringhausen replaced him in the eighth.

The game featured several spectacular defensive plays including St Louis third baseman Scott Rolen robbing Bagwell of a double in the fourth and Houston center fielder Carlos Beltran diving to take away an extra base hit by Edgar Renteria in the seventh.

“It was really a well-played game, well-pitched game. Brutal ending,” Cards manager Tony LaRussa told reporters.

Beltran, who had homered in a record five straight games before Monday, led off the ninth with his only hit of the night, a single to right center.

Lance Berkman was intentionally walked after Beltran stole second, bringing up Kent, who slammed Isringhausen’s first pitch into the left field seats, sparking wild celebrations on the field and in the stands at a sell-out Minute Maid Park.

“You have to try to control your emotions in that situation. You can’t try to do too much,” said Kent. “I was just trying to put the ball in play.”

For long-suffering Houston fans, it was a moment of rare exhilaration. Until their victory over the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the playoffs this year, the Astros had never won a postseason series.

They reached the playoffs by winning 36 of their last 46 games and have now won 22 of their last 23 outings at home.

The Championship Series moves back to St. Louis today with the Astros needing one victory to line up a World Series meeting with the New York Yankees or the Boston Red Sox.

The Yankees lead their American League Championship Series three games to two after Boston won 5-4 in 14 innings Monday.

St. Louis must win two games to advance but Astros manager Phil Garner said his team cannot get over-confident.

“We still have our heads down. We still have a job to do,” he said.