updated 11:08 a.m. ET Oct. 17, 2005

HOUSTON - The Houston Astros are within one victory of going to their first World Series, even though they can’t hit with runners in scoring position.

“That stat doesn’t matter when you’re winning,” Mike Lamb said. “If you lose, you go back and think about the missed opportunities. But when you’re winning, it just doesn’t matter.”

Despite hitting just .065 (2-for-31) with runners in scoring position in the NL championship series against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Astros have a 3-1 lead and a chance to end the series at home after a 2-1 victory Sunday.

“The hallmark of this team is the pitching, and Brandon Backe gave us a quality start,” catcher Brad Ausmus said. “We didn’t hit very well with men in scoring position, but today, two runs were enough.”

Houston got its runs on Jason Lane’s solo homer and a sacrifice fly by Morgan Ensberg. But the Astros were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, and left 11 men on base — five of them stranded at second or third base.

FREE VIDEO ‘We don’t play against the umpires’ Oct. 16: Cardinals manager Tony La Russa and Astros manager Phil Garner talk about the La Russa ejection and Game 4. NBC Sports

Even before Game 4, Astros manager Phil Garner knew where he thought his team might be because of its struggles in scoring situations.

“I would have said, we’re in a lot of deep stew here,” Garner said.

Instead, the Astros can clinch the first World Series appearance in their 44-season history with a win in Game 5 on Monday night when Andy Pettitte goes for his 15th postseason victory — which would match Atlanta’s John Smoltz for the most ever.

“Obviously we understand the situation, but we have a healthy Andy,” said Craig Biggio, the 39-year-old second baseman who has spent his entire career in Houston. “Andy wasn’t healthy last time he pitched. He didn’t let on to anybody, but his leg was killing him.”

Pettitte pitched with a swollen right knee in Game 1, allowing five runs in six innings of a 5-3 loss after being struck by a sharply hit ball during pregame batting practice. Garner said Sunday he expects the left-hander to be 100 percent for the start.

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If the Astros can’t win with Pettitte, they will have two more chances with 20-game winner Roy Oswalt and Roger Clemens ready to go to the mound in St. Louis.

Ensberg, who has only three RBIs in six games since driving in five runs in the NL division series opener, came to bat after consecutive two-out walks in the third. He grounded into an inning-ending fielder’s choice.

An inning earlier, Ensberg singled and was at second base with one out before Ausmus struck out and Adam Everett grounded out.

“We need to do a better job with runners in scoring position, but luckily, our pitching staff is incredible and they have been able to pick us up big-time,” Ensberg said.

In a wild seventh inning, when Cardinals manager Tony La Russa was ejected after arguing a four-pitch walk to Lance Berkman to load the bases with one out, Houston managed just one run. Ensberg then hit the sacrifice fly before Lamb flied out.

Slide show   NLCS images A visual tour of playoff series between the Astros and Cardinals

The Astros scored the go-ahead run without a hit, taking advantage of two walks and Jason Marquis’ fielding error on Biggio’s bunt to load the bases.

“It was execution, just doing the little things right in order to win,” Biggio said.

Still, isn’t there some concern about failing to get more runners home?

“I don’t care, who cares? You’re up 3-1,” Biggio said. “Obviously, the old cliche, you keep getting guys out there, and sooner or later you’re going to get some base hits. The biggest thing is we’re up 3-1 right now. You don’t care what you’re average is with runners in scoring position.”

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