Houston ? Just because St. Louis’ Jason Marquis got the most hits of any pitcher in baseball this season, that doesn’t mean he’s the best baserunner.

Marquis unsuccessfully tried stretching a single into a double in the fourth inning of Sunday’s Game 4 of the NL championship series, which Houston won, 6-5.

It was a bad move because the ball was in short right field. So even though Houston’s Lance Berkman was taking his time, he still was able to speed up and throw out Marquis at second base.

“I saw Lance with his head down, not looking up,” Marquis said. “The ball bobbled in his glove, and I thought I could make it. It was just good, aggressive baserunning.”

Berkman saw what was happening, just in time.

“Maybe he was just trying to catch me napping out there, but I’m glad it worked out,” Berkman said.

Marquis had 21 hits this season, batting .292.

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Banged-up Kent: The bruises keep adding up for Jeff Kent.

The Astros’ second baseman was hit by a ball again Sunday, this time by St. Louis reliever Julian Tavarez during his seventh-inning meltdown.

Tavarez’s pitch hit Kent on the inside of his lower left leg, loading the bases for the Astros. The sellout crowd booed Tavarez, and a few Astros moved to the top step of the dugout anticipating Kent’s reaction — Tavarez had thrown at Jeff Bagwell’s head earlier in the inning.

Kent didn’t appear to be hurt by the pitch and calmly jogged to first base.

“That’s typical,” Kent said after the game. “I’m getting poured on right now.”

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La Russa’s moves: St. Louis manager Tony La Russa shook up the batting order for Game 4, trying to get some production out of the bottom of his lineup.

John Mabry, batting seventh in place of Reggie Sanders, produced the first RBI this series from the Nos. 6-9 starters with a two-out single in the first inning.

In the fifth, fill-in catcher Yadier Molina contributed with his arm, throwing out Craig Biggio trying to steal second base.

Mabry and Molina went a combined 2-for-7. Sanders and regular catcher Mike Matheny were 3-for-20 over the first three games.