Edmonds forces Game 7 in N.L.

His 12th inning homer led St. Louis to a 6-4 win against the Astros.
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- When he misses with his big uppercut, Jim Edmonds can look utterly lost at the plate, as if he's swinging at shadows. After striking out his previous two at-bats, the St. Louis center fielder struck back.
Edmonds homered way over the Cardinals' bullpen in the 12th inning, a two-run shot for a 6-4 victory over Houston that evened the NL championship series at 3-all.
Edmonds skipped around the bases, jumping into a cluster of teammates waiting for him at home plate.
Clemens ready to go
Now, waiting for all of them: Roger Clemens in an all-or-nothing Game 7.
"We all watched TV as kids. We all hear all the stuff you guys say and write and show us. I finally get to play in a Game 7," Edmonds said.
"I think how much better does it get? Game 7 vs. Roger Clemens," he said.
Jeff Bagwell's two-out single in the ninth off Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen tied it at 4, then Edmonds won it with a one-out shot off Dan Miceli.
Bagwell didn't even bother watching as Edmonds' shot sailed to right field. The Houston first baseman simply lowered his head and walked across the field while the Cardinals streamed out of the dugout.
"A very winnable game for us, so I'm disappointed," Astros manager Phil Garner said. "Haven't given much thought to [tonight's] game, only that I had scheduled the Rocket to go."
Clemens came out of retirement for the sole purpose of pitching his hometown Astros into their first World Series. The 42-year-old ace will get that chance tonight when he starts against former Boston teammate Jeff Suppan.
Suppan has started against Clemens four times this year and lost every one, including in Game 3 at Houston.
It will be will Clemens' fourth career start in a Game 7 -- he's 1-0 in those outings after getting knocked out early last year in the ALCS for the Yankees.
"I've never seen him pitch when he wasn't tough to beat," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "It shapes up to be a terrific matchup."
Tavarez gets win
Righty Julian Tavarez went two innings for the victory. He pitched with a left hand that he broke in a dugout tantrum in Houston.
"It's my understanding that it's the fingers that are broken as opposed to the hand, so I'm not surprised. He did throw well," Garner said.
Miceli came on after Astros closer Brad Lidge blew away St. Louis for three perfect innings, striking out five.
"Of course you want him out of there," St. Louis' Albert Pujols said of Lidge.
Pujols drew a leadoff walk and one out later Edmonds connected for his second homer of the NLCS.
Pujols got the Cardinals started with a two-run homer in the first off Pete Munro. The journeyman pitched so that Clemens would not have to work on three days' rest.
The Cardinals took a 4-3 lead into the ninth, but Isringhausen immediately put himself in jeopardy by hitting pinch-hitter Morgan Ensberg leading off. A bunt moved Ensberg to second and Craig Biggio hit a fly ball for the second out.
Walked Beltran
That brought up Carlos Beltran, and the Cardinals huddled on the mound. A big cheer broke out in the sellout crowd of 52,144 when catcher Mike Matheny signaled for an intentional walk.
Bagwell foiled the strategy, hitting a hard RBI single on the first pitch. After a double steal, Isringhausen managed to keep it tied by striking out Lance Berkman.
Pujols put St. Louis ahead in the first with his sixth homer of the postseason, a two-run shot, and later added a double and single.
Beltran, continuing to build his October resume, hit two balls off the right-field wall and both times was held to a single by right fielder Larry Walker's fast relay. Beltran scored twice, and his 20 runs broke Barry Bonds' postseason record of 18 set in 2002.
Mike Lamb, starting at third base in place of the struggling Ensberg, hit a solo homer off Matt Morris in the fourth that made it 4-3.
HOUSTONST. LOUIS
abrhbiabrhbi
Biggio lf6000Wmack 2b2120
CBeltrn cf4220Luna 2b3000
Bgwell 1b6032MAndn 2b1000
Brkmn rf3001LWalkr rf6000
Lidge p0000Pujols 1b5332
Backe ph1000Rolen 3b6120
DMiceli p0000Edmnd cf6122
JKent 2b5020Rnteria ss5032
Lamb 3b4111RSndrs lf4030
JVzcno ss5010Isrnghs p0000
Asmus c3010Cedeno ph1000
Ensbrg ph0100Tvarez p0000
Lane rf1000Mtheny c4000
Munro p1000Morris p2000
Hrvlle p0000Mabry ph1000
AEvrtt ph1000King p0000
Qualls p0000Calero p0000
OPlmro ph1000Tguchi lf2000
Wheelr p0000
Brntlett ph0000
RChavz c1000
Totals424104Totals486156
Houston101100001000--4
St. Louis202000000002--6
One out when winning run scored.
DP--St. Louis 2. LOB--Houston 9, St. Louis 10. 2B--Bagwell (2), JKent (2), Pujols (1), Rolen (2), RSanders 2 (2). HR--Lamb (2), Pujols (4), Edmonds (2). SB--CBeltran 2 (3), Bagwell (1). CS--JVizcaino (1). S--Bruntlett. SF--Berkman.
IPHRERBBSO
Houston
PMunro2 1-384401
Harville2-310002
Qualls330013
Wheeler220002
Lidge300005
DMiceli L,0-2 1-312210
St. Louis
Morris553331
King2-320000
Calero1 1-310000
Isringhausen321112
Tavarez W,2-1200002
HBP--by Isringhausen (Ensberg). Umpires--Home, Ed Rapuano; First, Tim Welke; Second, Eric Cooper; Third, Gary Darling; Left, Mike Winters; Right, Angel Hernandez. T--3:54. A--52,144.