St. Louis ? Before the celebration began, the St. Louis Cardinals paused to honor a teammate and broadcaster.

Manager Tony La Russa gathered the team after their NL Central-clinching 9-3 victory against the Houston Astros on Friday night to remind them of the hurdles they’ve cleared and to pay tribute to Darryl Kile and Jack Buck.

This is the Cardinals’ third straight playoff berth and third division title in seven years under La Russa, and it clearly came under the toughest of circumstances.

Kile died in the team’s Chicago hotel on June 22 from a blockage of the arteries supplying the heart. It came just one week after the death of longtime announcer Buck, leaving a huge hole in the rotation and a team in depression.

“I wanted to make sure us as a group took a minute and included Jack and Darryl,” La Russa said. “I think a bunch of us felt it was appropriate to gather around and restate our dedication of what we’ve done to Jack and Darryl.”

Third baseman Scott Rolen, one of St. Louis’ key in-season additions, made a leaping catch to rob Brian Hunter and end the game, similar to his diving stop of Hunter to start the first. The Cardinals celebrated near the mound at Busch Stadium as Albert Pujols carried Kile’s jersey onto the field.

Jim Edmonds sprayed Kile’s jersey with champagne in the clubhouse.

St. Louis will probably open the playoffs at Arizona on Oct. 1. The Diamondbacks eliminated the Cardinals in five games in the opening round last season and went on to win the World Series.

Typically, the Cardinals lost another pitcher in the clincher. Woody Williams, making his fifth start since coming off his second stint on the disabled list for a pulled muscle in his left side, left the game with two outs in the fifth and a 5-3 lead.

The team said Williams experienced tightness in his back and rib cage.

None of it has slowed down the Cardinals, who have won 14 of their last 16 to bury the Astros, their closest competition in the Central. Houston is seven games behind wild-card leading San Francisco.

“I think we’ve been pushing all season long,” La Russa said. “When they smelled that finish line they were relentless.”

Two-run innings in the first and second gave the Cardinals a quick 4-0 lead. Fernando Vina provided an immediate spark when he tripled off the wall against Pete Munro (5-5), and scored on Marrero’s single.

Rick White (5-6), the Cardinals’ fourth pitcher, worked a scoreless seventh for the win.

Pirates 5, Cubs 4

Pittsburgh Sammy Sosa hit his 498th career homer but Pittsburgh rallied for two runs in the ninth.

Sosa was hitless in 10 at-bats when he connected for his 48th homer of the season on a 0-2 pitch from Salomon Torres.

Antonio Alfonseca (2-5) blew a save chance for the second straight night when Kevin Young singled in the ninth, Armando Rios hit an RBI double and Jack Wilson hit a game-winning single.

Scott Sauerbeck (4-3) pitched a scoreless ninth.

Padres 8, Dodgers 4

San Diego Andy Ashby (9-13) fell apart against his old team in the third inning and San Diego beat Los Angeles, dropping the Dodgers two games behind San Francisco in the NL wild-card race.

Rockies 9, D’backs 4

Denver Todd Helton hit a tiebreaking home run in the fifth inning and Colorado pounded Curt Schilling for his worst outing of the year.

Schilling (23-6) allowed a season-worst nine runs eight earned and 14 hits in 7 1/3 innings, damaging his hopes for his first career Cy Young Award.

Sean Lowe (5-2) pitched 1 1/3 innings to earn the victory.

Marlins 6, Braves 2

Atlanta Abraham Nunez got his first two major-league hits and fellow rookie Justin Wayne (2-2) won for just the second time in his major-league career. Florida’s Kevin Millar went 0-for-3 with two walks, ending his 25-game hitting streak.

Expos 6, Mets 1

New York Vladimir Guerrero stole three bases and Tony Armas Jr. (11-12) gave up one run and nine hits in seven-plus innings. Taking advantage of poor-throwing catcher Mike Piazza and starter John Thomson (9-13), Guerrero pushed his season total to 39 steals.

Giants 5, Brewers 1

Milwaukee Ryan Jensen (12-8) allowed one run and four hits in 5 1/3 innings and Rich Aurilia hit a two-run homer.

Milwaukee (54-99) set a franchise record for losses.

Nick Neugebauer (1-7) gave up four runs one earned six hits and four walks in 3 2/3 innings.

Reds-Phillies postponed

Cincinnati Rain prompted the Cincinnati Reds to postpone their game Friday against Philadelphia. The game will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader today.