Now, waiting for all of them is Roger Clemens in an all-or-nothing Game 7 tonight.

Edmonds blasted a two-run homer in the 12th inning, and the rejuvenated Cardinals beat the Houston Astros 6-4 Wednesday to even the NL Championship Series at 3-3.

"We all watched TV as kids. We all hear all the stuff you guys say and write and show us. I finally get to play in a Game 7," Edmonds said.

"I think, how much better does it get? Game 7 vs. Roger Clemens."

After Jeff Bagwell's two-out single in the ninth off Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen tied it at 4, Edmonds won it with a one-out shot off Dan Miceli.

"A very winnable game for us, so I'm disappointed," Astros manager Phil Garner said. "Haven't given much thought to tomorrow's game, only that I had scheduled the Rocket to go."

Clemens came out of retirement for the sole purpose of pitching his hometown Astros into their first World Series. Now, the 42-year-old ace will get that chance when he starts against former Boston teammate Jeff Suppan.

"What's there to say?" Clemens said, excusing himself to go watch the Red Sox play New York in Game 7 of the ALCS. "We've got to win tomorrow."

It will be will Clemens' fourth career start in a Game 7 - he's 1-0 in those outings after getting knocked out early last year in the ALCS for the Yankees.

"I've never seen him pitch when he wasn't tough to beat," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "It shapes up to be a terrific matchup."

Righty Julian Tavarez went two innings for the victory. He pitched with a left hand that he broke in a dugout tantrum in Houston.

The Cardinals won a postseason game in extra innings for the first time since the 1964 World Series at Yankee Stadium.

Miceli came on after Astros closer Brad Lidge blew away St. Louis for three perfect innings, striking out five.

"Of course you want him out of there," St. Louis' Albert Pujols said.

Pujols drew a leadoff walk, and one out later Edmonds connected for his second homer of the NLCS.

Pujols got the Cardinals started with a two-run homer in the first off Pete Munro. The journeyman pitched so Clemens would not have to work on three days' rest.

The Cardinals took a 4-3 lead into the ninth, but Isringhausen immediately put himself in jeopardy with a walk. After a sacrifice bunt and a flyout, the Cardinals intentionally walked Carlos Beltran to bring up Bagwell.

Bagwell foiled the strategy, hitting a hard RBI single on the first pitch. After a double steal, Isringhausen managed to keep it tied by striking out Lance Berkman.

After hitting only .161 in three straight losses at Minute Maid Park, the Cardinals quickly found their stroke at Busch Stadium.

Pujols put St. Louis ahead with his sixth homer of the postseason, a two-run shot, and later added a double and single.

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