Cardinals 7, Astros 0: Adam Wainwright continued his dominance of Houston with a five-hit shutout, striking out 12, and Yadier Molina and Skip Schumaker drove in two runs each as host St. Louis took the opener of a three-game series.

Molina punched RBI singles to left in the Cardinals’ four-run first and two-run second off Lucas Harrell (10-9), who balked in the game's first run.

Wainwright (12-10) beat the Astros for the sixth straight time and has held them without a run in 25 straight innings at Busch Stadium. He needed 105 pitches to notch his third complete game and second shutout this season.

Houston lost its fifth straight, falling to 0-2 under interim manager Tony DeFrancesco. Wild-card chasing St. Louis improved to 4-3 on its nine-game homestand.

Molina and leadoff batter Jon Jay each had three hits. Molina is 8-for-14 in his last three games with two doubles and four RBIs.

Wainwright walked only one, and two of the five hits he allowed came in the ninth. He has won five straight decisions.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Cards starter Jake Westbrook signed a contract extension through 2013 that includes a mutual option for 2014. … Harrell, who gave up six runs on eight hits in five innings, had allowed two or fewer runs in each of his previous seven post-All Star break starts. … Houston is 7-34 in its last 41 games. … The Cards get eight more games against the Astros this season. … Houston hasn’t won a series in an NL opponent’s stadium this year.