GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: HOUSTON (66-86) at ST LOUIS (71-80)

NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - PITCHING CHANGE
STL: KELVIN JIMENEZ (2-0, 7.71) IN THE 9TH
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, T WIGGINTON ON FIRST, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 3, ST LOUIS 1

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: J TOWLES (.391, 1 HR, 11 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: K Jimenez relieved J Isringhausen.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, T WIGGINTON ON FIRST, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 3
ST LOUIS 1 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: J Towles (.391, 0-FOR-0)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 3 8 2
ST LOUIS 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 8 1 (BOT 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - CHAD QUALLS
STL - KELVIN JIMENEZ

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: M CAIRO (.273, 0-FOR-1)
B RYAN (.302, 1-FOR-3)
D ECKSTEIN (.307, 1-FOR-4)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (3) VS ST LOUIS (1) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Anderson cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .396
C Biggio 2b 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 .249
C Qualls p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
L Berkman 1b 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 .274
C Lee lf 3 1 2 2 1 0 1 .300
H Pence rf 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .322
M Loretta ss-2b 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 .286
T Wigginton 3b 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .295
B Ausmus c 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
a-O Palmeiro ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240
J Towles c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .417
R Oswalt p 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .125
b-M Lamb ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .294
E Bruntlett pr-ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .248

Totals 35 3 8 3 1 7 10

a-grounded to second for B Ausmus in the 8th; b-doubled to left for R Oswalt
in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - M Lamb (14, B Falkenborg). HR - C Lee (31, 9th inning off J
Isringhausen 1 on, 0 Out). RBI - M Loretta (40), C Lee 2 (115). 2-out RBI - M
Loretta. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Wigginton 1, E Bruntlett
1, C Biggio 1. Team LOB - 6.

FIELDING: E - C Lee (4, line drive); T Wigginton (2, throw).


ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .307
R Ankiel cf 4 0 2 0 0 1 3 .283
S Taguchi lf 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .289
S Spiezio 1b 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .255
S Schumaker rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .321
A Miles 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .297
T Percival p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Springer p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Falkenborg p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-J Edmonds ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
J Isringhausen p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
K Jimenez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
K Stinnett c 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .188
T Wellemeyer p 2 1 1 0 0 0 3 .143
M Cairo 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
B Ryan 3b 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .302

Totals 33 1 8 0 1 2 15

a-lined out to center for B Falkenborg in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - B Ryan (9, R Oswalt). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - S
Spiezio 1, R Ankiel 1, S Schumaker 2, T Wellemeyer 2. Team LOB - 9.

BASERUNNING: CS - S Taguchi (3, 2nd base by R Oswalt/B Ausmus).

FIELDING: E - D Eckstein (18, ground ball). DP: 1 (B Ryan-S Spiezio-D
Eckstein-B Ryan-S Spiezio-D Eckstein).


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 000 000 102 -- 3
ST LOUIS - 010 000 00 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
R Oswalt 7 8 1 0 1 2 0 3.18
C Qualls 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.16

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
T Wellemeyer 5 1 0 0 1 5 0 3.28
T Percival 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.89
R Springer 1 3 1 1 0 1 0 2.25
B Falkenborg 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.29
J Isringhausen 2/3 2 2 1 0 0 1 2.32
K Jimenez 1/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 7.65

IBB - K Stinnett (by R Oswalt). Pitches-strikes: R Oswalt 101-75; C Qualls
5-4; T Wellemeyer 71-43; T Percival 9-8; R Springer 26-17; B Falkenborg 15-10;
J Isringhausen 15-10; K Jimenez 8-6. Ground balls-fly balls: R Oswalt 12-6; C
Qualls 2-1; T Wellemeyer 3-6; T Percival 1-1; R Springer 2-0; B Falkenborg 2-1;
J Isringhausen 2-0; K Jimenez 0-1. Batters faced: R Oswalt 31; C Qualls 3; T
Wellemeyer 16; T Percival 3; R Springer 6; B Falkenborg 4; J Isringhausen 5; K
Jimenez 2.

UMPIRES: HP--Alfonso Marquez. 1B--Chuck Meriwether. 2B--Rick Reed. 3B--Tim
Timmons.

Weather: 87 degrees, clear. Wind: 10 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - PITCHING CHANGE
HOU: BRAD LIDGE (5-2, 2.95) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 3, ST LOUIS 1

DUE UP FOR STLOUIS: M CAIRO (.273, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: B Lidge relieved C Qualls.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 3
ST LOUIS 1 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: M Cairo (.273, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: R Ludwick hit for B Ryan.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, M CAIRO ON FIRST, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 3
ST LOUIS 1 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: R Ludwick (.263, 14 HR, 47 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: A Pujols hit for D Eckstein.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, R LUDWICK ON FIRST, M CAIRO ON SECOND, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 3
ST LOUIS 1 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A Pujols (.322, 31 HR, 98 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ALBERT PUJOLS SCORED MIGUEL CAIRO.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A PUJOLS ON FIRST, R LUDWICK ON THIRD, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 3
ST LOUIS 2 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: R ANKIEL (.283, 2-FOR-4)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: B Barden ran for A Pujols.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, B BARDEN ON FIRST, R LUDWICK ON THIRD, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 3
ST LOUIS 2 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: R Ankiel (.283, 2-FOR-4)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - SCORING UPDATE
TRIPLE BY RICK ANKIEL SCORED RYAN LUDWICK AND BRIAN BARDEN.


FINAL SCORE: ST LOUIS 4, HOUSTON 3</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 3 8 2
ST LOUIS 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 4 11 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: HOU - ROY OSWALT, CHAD QUALLS (8TH), BRAD LIDGE (9TH) AND BRAD
AUSMUS, J.R. TOWLES (8TH)

STL - TODD WELLEMEYER, TROY PERCIVAL (6TH), RUSS
SPRINGER (7TH), BRIAN FALKENBORG (8TH), JASON ISRINGHAUSEN
(9TH), KELVIN JIMENEZ (9TH) AND KELLY STINNETT

HOME RUNS: HOU - CARLOS LEE (31) OFF JASON ISRINGHAUSEN IN THE 9TH, 1 ON

STL - NONE</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 3 8 2
ST LOUIS 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 4 11 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: HOU - ROY OSWALT, CHAD QUALLS (8TH), BRAD LIDGE (9TH) AND BRAD
AUSMUS, J.R. TOWLES (8TH)

STL - TODD WELLEMEYER, TROY PERCIVAL (6TH), RUSS
SPRINGER (7TH), BRIAN FALKENBORG (8TH), JASON ISRINGHAUSEN
(9TH), KELVIN JIMENEZ (9TH) AND KELLY STINNETT


WP - KELVIN JIMENEZ (3-0)
LP - BRAD LIDGE (5-3)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: HOU - CARLOS LEE (31) OFF JASON ISRINGHAUSEN IN THE 9TH, 1 ON

STL - NONE


TIME: 2:51 ATT: 46,169

PROBABLES: STL - ADAM WAINWRIGHT (13-11, 3.60)
MIL - DAVE BUSH (11-10, 5.20)

PROBABLES: HOU - JUAN GUTIERREZ (1-1, 4.96)
CIN - TOM SHEARN (3-0, 3.94)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (3) VS ST LOUIS (4) - FINAL

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Anderson cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .396
C Biggio 2b 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 .249
C Qualls p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Lidge p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
L Berkman 1b 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 .274
C Lee lf 3 1 2 2 1 0 1 .300
H Pence rf 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .322
M Loretta ss-2b 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 .286
T Wigginton 3b 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .295
B Ausmus c 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
a-O Palmeiro ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240
J Towles c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .417
R Oswalt p 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .125
b-M Lamb ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .294
E Bruntlett pr-ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .248

Totals 35 3 8 3 1 7 10

a-grounded to second for B Ausmus in the 8th; b-doubled to left for R Oswalt
in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - M Lamb (14, B Falkenborg). HR - C Lee (31, 9th inning off J
Isringhausen 1 on, 0 Out). RBI - M Loretta (40), C Lee 2 (115). 2-out RBI - M
Loretta. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Wigginton 1, E Bruntlett
1, C Biggio 1. Team LOB - 6.

FIELDING: E - C Lee (4, line drive); T Wigginton (2, throw).


ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .307
b-A Pujols ph 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .323
B Barden pr 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .148
R Ankiel cf 5 0 3 2 0 1 3 .288
S Taguchi lf 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .289
S Spiezio 1b 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .255
S Schumaker rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .321
A Miles 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .297
T Percival p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Springer p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Falkenborg p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-J Edmonds ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
J Isringhausen p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
K Jimenez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
K Stinnett c 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .188
T Wellemeyer p 2 1 1 0 0 0 3 .143
M Cairo 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .286
B Ryan 3b 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .302
c-R Ludwick ph 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .263

Totals 36 4 11 3 2 2 15

a-lined out to center for B Falkenborg in the 8th; b-singled to deep left for
D Eckstein in the 9th; c-walked for B Ryan in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - B Ryan (9, R Oswalt). 3B - R Ankiel (1, B Lidge). RBI - A Pujols
(99), R Ankiel 2 (35). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - S Spiezio 1, R
Ankiel 1, S Schumaker 2, T Wellemeyer 2. Team LOB - 10.

BASERUNNING: CS - S Taguchi (3, 2nd base by R Oswalt/B Ausmus).

FIELDING: E - D Eckstein (18, ground ball). DP: 1 (B Ryan-S Spiezio-D
Eckstein-B Ryan-S Spiezio-D Eckstein).


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 000 000 102 -- 3
ST LOUIS - 010 000 003 -- 4

No outs when winning run scored.
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
R Oswalt 7 8 1 0 1 2 0 3.18
C Qualls 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.16
B Lidge (L, 5-3; B, 8) 0 3 3 3 1 0 0 3.37

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
T Wellemeyer 5 1 0 0 1 5 0 3.28
T Percival (H, 4) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.89
R Springer (B, 2) 1 3 1 1 0 1 0 2.25
B Falkenborg 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.29
J Isringhausen 2/3 2 2 1 0 0 1 2.32
K Jimenez (W, 3-0) 1/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 7.65

B Lidge pitched to 4 batters in the 9th.

IBB - K Stinnett (by R Oswalt). Pitches-strikes: R Oswalt 101-75; C Qualls
5-4; B Lidge 19-11; T Wellemeyer 71-43; T Percival 9-8; R Springer 26-17; B
Falkenborg 15-10; J Isringhausen 15-10; K Jimenez 8-6. Ground balls-fly balls:
R Oswalt 12-6; C Qualls 2-1; B Lidge 0-0; T Wellemeyer 3-6; T Percival 1-1; R
Springer 2-0; B Falkenborg 2-1; J Isringhausen 2-0; K Jimenez 0-1. Batters
faced: R Oswalt 31; C Qualls 3; B Lidge 4; T Wellemeyer 16; T Percival 3; R
Springer 6; B Falkenborg 4; J Isringhausen 5; K Jimenez 2.

UMPIRES: HP--Alfonso Marquez. 1B--Chuck Meriwether. 2B--Rick Reed. 3B--Tim
Timmons.

T--2:51. Att--46,169.
Weather: 87 degrees, clear. Wind: 10 mph, right to
left.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
HOUSTON 3
ST LOUIS 4 FINAL</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOUSTON (3) AT ST LOUIS (4) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ST LOUIS 2ND: A Miles grounded out to shortstop. K Stinnett flied out to
left. T Wellemeyer singled to right. B Ryan doubled to left, T Wellemeyer to
third. D Eckstein safe at first on throwing error by third baseman T
Wigginton, T Wellemeyer scored, B Ryan to third. R Ankiel grounded out to
second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) HOUSTON 0, ST LOUIS 1.

HOUSTON 7TH: R Springer relieved T Percival. C Biggio singled to center.
L Berkman struck out looking. C Lee singled to center, C Biggio to second.
H Pence grounded into fielder's choice to third, C Lee out at second, C Biggio to
third. M Loretta singled to shallow right, C Biggio scored, H Pence to second.
T Wigginton grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, M Loretta out at
second. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, ST LOUIS 1.

HOUSTON 9TH: J Isringhausen relieved B Falkenborg. L Berkman safe at first
on error by shortstop D Eckstein. C Lee homered to left, L Berkman scored.
H Pence grounded out to second. M Loretta grounded out to first. T Wigginton
singled to center. K Jimenez relieved J Isringhausen. J Towles singled to
left, T Wigginton to second. E Bruntlett popped out to catcher. (2 Runs,
3 Hits, 1 Error) HOUSTON 3, ST LOUIS 1.

ST LOUIS 9TH: B Lidge relieved C Qualls. M Cairo singled to right.
R Ludwick hit for B Ryan. R Ludwick walked, M Cairo to second. A Pujols hit for
D Eckstein. A Pujols singled to deep left, M Cairo scored, R Ludwick to third.
B Barden ran for A Pujols. R Ankiel tripled to right, R Ludwick and B Barden
scored. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, ST LOUIS 4.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOUSTON (3) AT ST LOUIS (4) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Houston Starting Lineups -- J Anderson CF, C Biggio 2B, L Berkman 1B, C Lee LF,
H Pence RF, M Loretta SS, T Wigginton 3B, B Ausmus C, R Oswalt RHP.

St Louis Starting Lineups -- D Eckstein SS, R Ankiel CF, S Taguchi LF,
S Spiezio 1B, S Schumaker RF, A Miles 2B, K Stinnett C, B Ryan 3B,
T Wellemeyer RHP.

Umpires -- Alfonso Marquez (HP), Chuck Meriwether (1B), Rick Reed (2B),
Tim Timmons (3B).

Gametime Weather: 87 degrees, Clear, wind right to left at 10 mph.


HOUSTON 1ST: J Anderson grounded out to first. C Biggio flied out to
right. L Berkman fouled out to catcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0,
ST LOUIS 0.

ST LOUIS 1ST: D Eckstein grounded out to second. R Ankiel singled to
right. S Taguchi struck out swinging. S Spiezio safe at second on error by
left fielder C Lee, R Ankiel to third. S Schumaker popped out to second.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) HOUSTON 0, ST LOUIS 0.

HOUSTON 2ND: C Lee walked. H Pence struck out swinging. M Loretta
grounded into double play, third to first to shortstop to third to first to
shortstop, C Lee out at second, C Lee out at third.(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
HOUSTON 0, ST LOUIS 0.

ST LOUIS 2ND: A Miles grounded out to shortstop. K Stinnett flied out to
left. T Wellemeyer singled to right. B Ryan doubled to left, T Wellemeyer to
third. D Eckstein safe at first on throwing error by third baseman
T Wigginton, T Wellemeyer scored, B Ryan to third. R Ankiel grounded out to
second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) HOUSTON 0, ST LOUIS 1.

HOUSTON 3RD: T Wigginton flied out to center. B Ausmus popped out to
first. R Oswalt struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0,
ST LOUIS 1.

ST LOUIS 3RD: S Taguchi singled to center. S Taguchi caught stealing
second, catcher to shortstop. S Spiezio singled to left. S Schumaker singled
to center, S Spiezio to second. A Miles grounded into fielder's choice to
second, S Schumaker out at second, S Spiezio to third. K Stinnett
intentionally walked, A Miles to second. T Wellemeyer grounded out to first.
(0 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, ST LOUIS 1.

HOUSTON 4TH: J Anderson flied out to left. C Biggio struck out swinging.
L Berkman singled to center. C Lee grounded into fielder's choice to third,
L Berkman out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, ST LOUIS 1.

ST LOUIS 4TH: B Ryan grounded out to second. D Eckstein singled to center.
R Ankiel struck out swinging. S Taguchi flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, ST LOUIS 1.

HOUSTON 5TH: H Pence struck out looking. M Loretta lined out to third.
T Wigginton struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, ST LOUIS 1.

ST LOUIS 5TH: S Spiezio flied out to center. S Schumaker grounded out to
second. A Miles grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0,
ST LOUIS 1.

HOUSTON 6TH: T Percival relieved T Wellemeyer. M Cairo at second base.
B Ausmus lined out to left. R Oswalt grounded out to third. J Anderson struck
out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, ST LOUIS 1.

ST LOUIS 6TH: K Stinnett flied out to right. M Cairo flied out to right.
B Ryan grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0,
ST LOUIS 1.

HOUSTON 7TH: R Springer relieved T Percival. C Biggio singled to center.
L Berkman struck out looking. C Lee singled to center, C Biggio to second.
H Pence grounded into fielder's choice to third, C Lee out at second, C Biggio to
third. M Loretta singled to shallow right, C Biggio scored, H Pence to second.
T Wigginton grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, M Loretta out at
second. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, ST LOUIS 1.

ST LOUIS 7TH: D Eckstein grounded out to first. R Ankiel singled to right.
S Taguchi grounded out to pitcher, R Ankiel to second. S Spiezio grounded out
to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, ST LOUIS 1.

HOUSTON 8TH: B Falkenborg relieved R Springer. O Palmeiro hit for B Ausmus.
O Palmeiro grounded out to second. M Lamb hit for R Oswalt. M Lamb doubled to
left. E Bruntlett ran for M Lamb. J Anderson grounded out to third,
E Bruntlett to third. C Biggio flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
HOUSTON 1, ST LOUIS 1.

ST LOUIS 8TH: C Qualls relieved R Oswalt. M Loretta at second base.
J Towles catching. E Bruntlett at shortstop. S Schumaker grounded out to second.
J Edmonds hit for B Falkenborg. J Edmonds lined out to center. K Stinnett
grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, ST LOUIS 1.

HOUSTON 9TH: J Isringhausen relieved B Falkenborg. L Berkman safe at first
on error by shortstop D Eckstein. C Lee homered to left, L Berkman scored.
H Pence grounded out to second. M Loretta grounded out to first. T Wigginton
singled to center. K Jimenez relieved J Isringhausen. J Towles singled to
left, T Wigginton to second. E Bruntlett popped out to catcher. (2 Runs,
3 Hits, 1 Error) HOUSTON 3, ST LOUIS 1.

ST LOUIS 9TH: B Lidge relieved C Qualls. M Cairo singled to right.
R Ludwick hit for B Ryan. R Ludwick walked, M Cairo to second. A Pujols hit for
D Eckstein. A Pujols singled to deep left, M Cairo scored, R Ludwick to third.
B Barden ran for A Pujols. R Ankiel tripled to right, R Ludwick and B Barden
scored. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, ST LOUIS 4.</div>

 

Ankiel, Pujols power Cardinals past Astros

<h3>ST LOUIS 4, HOUSTON 3</h3>ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- One big hit deserves another. RickAnkiel and Albert Pujols keyed a three-run rally in the ninthinning off Brad Lidge as the St. Louis Cardinals posted a 4-3victory over the Houston Astros on Sunday.


The Astros carried a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the ninthbefore turning the ball over to Lidge (5-3), who suffered yetanother ninth-inning meltdown.


Miguel Cairo hit a leadoff single, and pinch hitter Ryan Ludwickwalked before Pujols smoked a pinch-hit RBI single off the wallin left to cut the deficit to 3-2. After fighting off severalpitches, Ankiel hit the game-winning two-run triple to the rightfield corner.


In the top half of the ninth, Carlos Lee blasted a two-run homerinto the left-center field stands off of Jason Isringhausen tosnap a 1-1 tie. It was Lee's 31st homer this season.

Kelvin Jimenez (3-0) picked up the win for the Cardinals.

St. Louis starter Todd Wellemeyer struck out five batters in fivescoreless frames.


Mark Loretta extended his hitting streak to 13 games with arun-scoring single in the seventh off Cardinals reliever RussSpringer, tying the score at 1-1.


Houston's Roy Oswalt yielded one unearned run and eight hits inseven innings.

 

Ankiel, Pujols power Cardinals past Astros

<h3>ST LOUIS 4, HOUSTON 3</h3>ST. LOUIS (Ticker) - One big hit deserved another.

Rick Ankiel and Albert Pujols keyed a three-run rally in the ninthinning off Brad Lidge as the St. Louis Cardinals posted a 4-3victory over the Houston Astros on Sunday.


The Astros carried a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the ninthbefore turning the ball over to Lidge (5-3), who suffered yetanother ninth-inning meltdown.


Miguel Cairo hit a leadoff single, and pinch hitter Ryan Ludwickwalked before Pujols smoked a pinch-hit RBI single off the wallin left to cut the deficit to 3-2. After fighting off severalpitches, Ankiel hit the game-winning two-run triple to the rightfield corner.


In the top half of the ninth, Carlos Lee blasted a two-run homerinto the left-center field stands off of Jason Isringhausen tosnap a 1-1 tie. It was Lee's 31st homer this season.

Kelvin Jimenez (3-0) picked up the win for the Cardinals.

St. Louis starter Todd Wellemeyer struck out five batters infive scoreless frames.


Mark Loretta extended his hitting streak to 13 games with arun-scoring single in the seventh off Cardinals reliever RussSpringer, tying the score at 1-1.


Houston's Roy Oswalt yielded one unearned run and eight hits inseven innings.

 

Ankiel, Pujols power Cardinals past Astros

<h3>ST LOUIS 4, HOUSTON 3</h3>ST. LOUIS (Ticker) - One big hit deserved another.

Rick Ankiel and Albert Pujols keyed a three-run rally in theNinth inning off Brad Lidge as the St. Louis Cardinals posted a4-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Sunday.


The Astros carried a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the ninthbefore turning the ball over to Lidge (5-3), who suffered yetanother ninth-inning meltdown.


"Getting guys on base is kind of what killed me," said Lidge,who blew his eighth save of the season. "Ankiel did a good jobof putting it in play and hitting it down the line. I thoughtit was a pretty good pitch."


Miguel Cairo hit a leadoff single, and pinch hitter Ryan Ludwickwalked before Pujols smoked a pinch-hit RBI single off the wallin left to cut the deficit to 3-2. After fighting off severalpitches, Ankiel hit the game-winning two-run triple to the rightfield corner.


"It was a great game for both sides," said Pujols, who missedhis fifth straight start due to a strained left calf. "I wastrying to get a good pitch to hit and put my best swing on it."

"It was exciting, especially since it was the last game here,"Ankiel said. "I was just up there trying to battle. (Lidge)throws so hard, it's hard to just sit on a slider.

"With the runner on third and there are no outs, I was justtrying to get something in the outfield or get something I couldput good hard contact on. I think it was a good at-bat and I'mglad I was able to come through."


In the top half of the ninth, Carlos Lee blasted a two-run homerinto the left-center field stands off of Jason Isringhausen tosnap a 1-1 tie. It was Lee's 31st homer of the season.

Kelvin Jimenez (3-0) picked up the win for the Cardinals.

"We have great heart on this team and you can't deny that,"Cardinal manager Tony La Russa said. "We finally got the win wedeserve with as many times as we kept pushing. Last game athome, that's fantasy island stuff. I can't be any happier forthe guys in the club and our fans."


St. Louis starter Todd Wellemeyer struck out five batters infive scoreless frames. "When I'm throwing strikes and my stuffis good, they have a problem hitting it," Wellemeyer said. "Fanslove winning games like that."


Mark Loretta extended his hitting streak to 13 games with arun-scoring single in the seventh off Cardinals reliever RussSpringer, tying the score at 1-1. Houston's Roy Oswalt yieldedone unearned run and eight hits in seven innings.


"I had pretty good command most of the night," Oswalt said. "Iwas just trying to keep them off balance. I was able to getthrough seven."