ST. LOUIS -- Reggie Sanders' two-run homer and Chris Carpenter's eight-inning outing in Game 1 of the 2005 National League Championship Series led the Cardinals to a 5-3 win over the Astros in Game 1 of the NLCS -- a series that later featured Albert Pujols' ninth-inning homer off Brad Lidge in Game 5.

Despite the Astros eventually winning the series and the pennant, the Cardinals took control in the opener at Busch Stadium. St. Louis finished 11 games ahead of the Astros -- who won the NL Wild Card and beat the Braves in the NL Division Series -- in the NL Central that season and beat the Padres in the NLDS to set the stage for the championship rematch. In the 2004 NLCS, when the Cardinals beat the Astros in seven games, the home team won every game.

The day before Game 1, Astros starter Andy Pettitte was hit on the right knee by a line drive in batting practice. The left-hander pitched despite a swollen knee and allowed eight hits in six innings. The Cardinals' five runs were the most runs Pettitte allowed since June 14, 2005, when Baltimore scored six runs.

"I got hit, but we took care of it and did what we could to help me out with that," Pettitte said after the game. "I felt good going out there. I was just terrible. I never got in a rhythm, a real good rhythm at all throughout the six innings that I threw."

With two outs in the first inning and a runner at first, Sanders jumped on a 1-2 fastball from Pettitte to continue his torrid postseason run up to that point. The outfielder had a homer and 10 RBIs in a three-game sweep of the Padres in the NLDS, including a Division Series record of six RBIs in the opener.

Sanders' 445-foot blast just missed the scoreboard hanging in the left-field bleachers. Left fielder Lance Berkman barely moved.

"This is such a big magnifying glass," Sanders said. "Everything is heightened when you come through in key situations. There's been times when I was hot, but it's kind of been shoved under the table. Now, things are finally going in the right direction for me.

"Everything is about timing. There's no pressure. I'm just out there doing my thing. I'm glad things are paying off."

The Cardinals added another run in the second and two more in the fifth, so Carpenter pitched with a comfortable lead as he shut out the Astros through 6 2/3 innings. St. Louis' ace -- who missed the 2004 postseason with a nerve problem in his right biceps -- allowed two runs and five hits in eight innings.