WASHINGTON, Oct 11: Atlanta took a commanding 2-0 lead over Houston in their National League division series Wednesday, while St Louis knotted their series with Arizona and Oakland got off to a winning start.

In Houston, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz combined on a seven-hitter and the game’s lone run scored on a double-play grounder as the Atlanta Braves posted a 1-0 triumph over the Astros for a commanding two games to none lead in their best-of-five NL series.

Houston’s 13th loss in its last 15 postseason games was yet another heartbreaker. The Braves’ only run was aided by a throwing error by shortstop Julio Lugo, who also committed a costly miscue in Game One.

The St Louis Cardinals, knocked down by the first half of a vaunted 1-2 pitching punch in the series opener, got off the canvas and dealt the Arizona Diamondbacks’ post season hopes a potentially devastating blow.

Wednesday’s playoff results (home team in CAPS):

National League

Atlanta 1 HOUSTON 0

(Atlanta lead best-of-five series 2-0)

St Louis 4 ARIZONA 1

(best-of-five series level at 1-1)

American League

Oakland 5 NY YANKEES 3

(Oakland lead best-of-five series 1-0).

—AFP/Reuters