GAME THREAD: NL: ST LOUIS (74-84) at PITTSBURGH (68-91)

NL: ST LOUIS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS (6) VS PITTSBURGH (5) - FINAL

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309
B Looper p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .189
B Falkenborg p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
T Johnson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-R Branyan ph 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 .196
R Springer p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
S Taguchi cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
S Schumaker lf 5 0 5 2 0 0 0 .333
A Pujols 1b 5 0 0 0 0 2 5 .327
R Ankiel cf-rf 5 0 0 0 0 1 3 .285
R Ludwick rf 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 .267
R Franklin p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500
R Flores p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
K Jimenez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Barden ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .171
S Spiezio 3b 3 3 2 1 1 0 0 .269
K Stinnett c 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .159
T Percival p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-J Edmonds ph 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .252
B Thompson pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167
K Wells p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .321
B Ryan ss 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 .289
J Isringhausen p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
A Miles 2b 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 .290

Totals 38 6 11 6 2 6 10

a-singled to shallow right for T Percival in the 2nd; b-walked for T Johnson
in the 6th.

BATTING: 2B - S Schumaker 2 (12, M Capps, B Bullington). HR - S Spiezio (4, 4th
inning off B Bullington 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - J Edmonds (53), S Spiezio (31), B
Ryan (12), R Branyan (26), S Schumaker 2 (19). 2-out RBI - J Edmonds, B Ryan, R
Branyan, S Schumaker 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Ankiel 3, A
Pujols 2. Team LOB - 7.

BASERUNNING: SB - S Schumaker (1, 2nd base off B Bullington/C Maldonado).


PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Morgan cf 5 0 2 1 0 2 0 .299
C Izturis ss 5 0 2 1 0 0 3 .258
A LaRoche 1b 3 0 0 0 0 3 2 .272
b-J Phelps ph-1b 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 .351
X Nady lf 5 0 2 1 0 2 3 .278
J Bautista 3b 5 0 0 0 0 1 2 .254
S Pearce rf 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 .294
J Castillo 2b 4 2 2 1 0 1 1 .244
C Maldonado c 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 .208
B Bullington p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
a-J Bay ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .247
J Perez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
F Osoria p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Grabow p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Sanchez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
S Youman p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .083
c-N McLouth ph 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .258
T Armas p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .115
d-R Paulino ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .263
M Capps p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000

Totals 39 5 13 5 2 10 16

a-fouled out to first for B Bullington in the 5th; b-walked for A Laroche in
the 7th; c-singled to right for S Youman in the 7th; d-struck out swinging
for T Armas in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - S Pearce (5, R Franklin); J Castillo (18, R Franklin). RBI - N
Morgan (7), J Castillo (24), N McLouth (38), C Izturis (16), X Nady (72). 2-out
RBI - N Morgan, C Izturis, X Nady. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C
Izturis 1, X Nady 1, R Paulino 1. Team LOB - 9.

BASERUNNING: CS - C Izturis (3, 2nd base by K Wells/K Stinnett).


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 010 104 000 -- 6
PITTSBURGH - 000 010 301 -- 5
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
T Percival 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 1.80
K Wells (W, 7-17) 3 2 0 0 0 4 0 5.70
B Looper 1/3 2 1 1 0 0 0 4.94
B Falkenborg 1/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.82
T Johnson 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.03
R Springer 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.18
R Franklin 1/3 3 3 3 0 0 0 3.04
R Flores (H, 16) 1/3 1 0 0 1 0 0 4.25
K Jimenez (H, 1) 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 7.50
J Isringhausen (S, 32) 1 1/3 2 1 1 1 2 0 2.48

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bullington (L, 0-3) 5 5 2 2 1 3 1 5.29
J Perez 1/3 2 2 2 0 1 0 4.38
F Osoria 1/3 2 2 2 0 0 0 4.76
J Grabow 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 4.53
R Sanchez 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.00
S Youman 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.97
T Armas 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 6.03
M Capps 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.28

J Grabow pitched to 2 batters in the 6th.

WP - B Bullington, R Franklin. Pitches-strikes: T Percival 14-11; K Wells
42-28; B Looper 14-9; B Falkenborg 9-6; T Johnson 2-2; R Springer 14-8; R
Franklin 11-8; R Flores 8-4; K Jimenez 22-15; J Isringhausen 28-16; B
Bullington 78-56; J Perez 8-6; F Osoria 9-5; J Grabow 10-4; R Sanchez 2-1; S
Youman 9-6; T Armas 17-12; M Capps 20-14. Ground balls-fly balls: T Percival
0-1; K Wells 3-1; B Looper 1-0; B Falkenborg 0-1; T Johnson 1-0; R Springer
2-0; R Franklin 0-1; R Flores 1-0; K Jimenez 0-2; J Isringhausen 0-2; B
Bullington 8-4; J Perez 0-0; F Osoria 0-1; J Grabow 0-0; R Sanchez 0-1; S
Youman 1-2; T Armas 1-1; M Capps 0-2. Batters faced: T Percival 4; K Wells 10;
B Looper 3; B Falkenborg 2; T Johnson 1; R Springer 3; R Franklin 4; R Flores
3; K Jimenez 4; J Isringhausen 7; B Bullington 21; J Perez 3; F Osoria 3; J
Grabow 2; R Sanchez 1; S Youman 3; T Armas 3; M Capps 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Mike Dimuro. 3B--Gerry Davis.

T--3:11. Att--25,664.
Weather: 73 degrees, sunny. Wind: 6 mph, in from
center.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
ST LOUIS 6
PITTSBURGH 5 FINAL</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ST LOUIS (6) AT PITTSBURGH (5) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ST LOUIS 2ND: R Ludwick popped out to second. S Spiezio walked.
K Stinnett grounded out to third, S Spiezio to second. J Edmonds hit for
T Percival. S Spiezio to third on wild pitch by B Bullington. J Edmonds
singled to shallow right, S Spiezio scored. B Thompson ran for J Edmonds.
A Miles flied out to center. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 1, PITTSBURGH 0.

ST LOUIS 4TH: R Ludwick grounded out to third. S Spiezio homered to right.
K Stinnett struck out swinging. K Wells struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) ST LOUIS 2, PITTSBURGH 0.

PITTSBURGH 5TH: B Looper relieved K Wells. B Ryan at shortstop. S Pearce
grounded out to shortstop. J Castillo singled to left. C Maldonado singled
to deep left, J Castillo to third. J Bay hit for B Bullington. B Falkenborg
relieved B Looper. J Bay fouled out to first. N Morgan singled to center,
J Castillo scored, C Maldonado to third. T Johnson relieved B Falkenborg.
C Izturis grounded out to pitcher. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 2,
PITTSBURGH 1.

ST LOUIS 6TH: J Perez relieved B Bullington. R Ankiel struck out looking.
R Ludwick singled to left. S Spiezio singled to left, R Ludwick to second.
F Osoria relieved J Perez. K Stinnett flied out to right, R Ludwick to third.
B Ryan singled to left, R Ludwick scored, S Spiezio to second. A Miles singled
to right, S Spiezio to third, B Ryan to second. R Branyan hit for T Johnson.
J Grabow relieved F Osoria. R Branyan walked, S Spiezio scored, B Ryan to third,
A Miles to second. S Schumaker singled to center, B Ryan and A Miles scored,
R Branyan to second. R Sanchez relieved J Grabow. A Pujols flied out to right.
(4 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 6, PITTSBURGH 1.

PITTSBURGH 7TH: S Taguchi in center field. R Ankiel in right field.
R Franklin relieved R Springer. S Pearce doubled to deep right. J Castillo hit
a ground rule double to deep left, S Pearce scored. J Castillo to third on wild
pitch by R Franklin. C Maldonado popped out to second. N McLouth hit for
S Youman. N McLouth singled to right, J Castillo scored. R Flores relieved
R Franklin. N Morgan bunt grounded out to pitcher, N McLouth to second.
C Izturis singled to center, N McLouth scored. J Phelps hit for A LaRoche.
J Phelps walked, C Izturis to second. K Jimenez relieved R Flores. X Nady
struck out swinging. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 6, PITTSBURGH 4.

PITTSBURGH 9TH: N Morgan struck out looking. C Izturis lined out to third.
J Phelps walked. J Phelps to second on fielder's indifference. X Nady singled
to center, J Phelps scored. J Bautista flied out to center. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) ST LOUIS 6, PITTSBURGH 5.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ST LOUIS 0 1 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 6 11 0
PITTSBURGH 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 1 5 13 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: STL - TROY PERCIVAL, KIP WELLS (2ND), BRADEN LOOPER (5TH), BRIAN
FALKENBORG (5TH), TYLER JOHNSON (5TH), RUSS SPRINGER (6TH),
RYAN FRANKLIN (7TH), RANDY FLORES (7TH), KELVIN JIMENEZ (7TH),
JASON ISRINGHAUSEN (8TH) AND KELLY STINNETT

PIT - BRYAN BULLINGTON, JUAN PEREZ (6TH), FRANQUELIS
OSORIA (6TH), JOHN GRABOW (6TH), ROMULO SANCHEZ (6TH), SHANE
YOUMAN (7TH), TONY ARMAS (8TH), MATT CAPPS (9TH) AND CARLOS
MALDONADO


WP - KIP WELLS (7-17)
LP - BRYAN BULLINGTON (0-3)
SAVE - JASON ISRINGHAUSEN (32)

HOME RUNS: STL - SCOTT SPIEZIO (4) OFF BRYAN BULLINGTON IN THE 4TH, 0 ON

PIT - NONE


TIME: 3:11 ATT: 25,664</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ST LOUIS (6) AT PITTSBURGH (5) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

Pittsburgh Starting Lineups -- N Morgan CF, C Izturis SS, A LaRoche 1B, X Nady LF,
J Bautista 3B, S Pearce RF, J Castillo 2B, C Maldonado C, B Bullington RHP.

Umpires -- Brian Gorman (HP), Paul Nauert (1B), Mike Dimuro (2B), Gerry Davis (3B).

Gametime Weather: 73 degrees, Sunny, wind in from center at 6 mph.


ST LOUIS 1ST: D Eckstein grounded out to second. S Schumaker singled to
left. A Pujols grounded out to third, S Schumaker to second. R Ankiel
grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 0, PITTSBURGH 0.

PITTSBURGH 1ST: N Morgan singled to left. C Izturis popped out to second.
A LaRoche struck out swinging. X Nady struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) ST LOUIS 0, PITTSBURGH 0.

ST LOUIS 2ND: R Ludwick popped out to second. S Spiezio walked.
K Stinnett grounded out to third, S Spiezio to second. J Edmonds hit for
T Percival. S Spiezio to third on wild pitch by B Bullington. J Edmonds
singled to shallow right, S Spiezio scored. B Thompson ran for J Edmonds.
A Miles flied out to center. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 1, PITTSBURGH 0.

PITTSBURGH 2ND: K Wells relieved T Percival. J Bautista grounded out to
second. S Pearce popped out to second. J Castillo struck out swinging.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 1, PITTSBURGH 0.

ST LOUIS 3RD: D Eckstein grounded out to first. S Schumaker singled to
right. S Schumaker stole second. A Pujols grounded out to shortstop. R Ankiel
lined out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 1, PITTSBURGH 0.

PITTSBURGH 3RD: C Maldonado grounded out to second. B Bullington grounded
out to second. N Morgan struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
ST LOUIS 1, PITTSBURGH 0.

ST LOUIS 4TH: R Ludwick grounded out to third. S Spiezio homered to right.
K Stinnett struck out swinging. K Wells struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) ST LOUIS 2, PITTSBURGH 0.

PITTSBURGH 4TH: C Izturis singled to center. C Izturis caught stealing
second, catcher to shortstop. A LaRoche struck out looking. X Nady singled to
right. J Bautista struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 2,
PITTSBURGH 0.

ST LOUIS 5TH: A Miles lined out to center. D Eckstein grounded out to
first. S Schumaker doubled to deep left. A Pujols struck out looking.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 2, PITTSBURGH 0.

PITTSBURGH 5TH: B Looper relieved K Wells. B Ryan at shortstop. S Pearce
grounded out to shortstop. J Castillo singled to left. C Maldonado singled
to deep left, J Castillo to third. J Bay hit for B Bullington. B Falkenborg
relieved B Looper. J Bay fouled out to first. N Morgan singled to center,
J Castillo scored, C Maldonado to third. T Johnson relieved B Falkenborg.
C Izturis grounded out to pitcher. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 2,
PITTSBURGH 1.

ST LOUIS 6TH: J Perez relieved B Bullington. R Ankiel struck out looking.
R Ludwick singled to left. S Spiezio singled to left, R Ludwick to second.
F Osoria relieved J Perez. K Stinnett flied out to right, R Ludwick to third.
B Ryan singled to left, R Ludwick scored, S Spiezio to second. A Miles singled
to right, S Spiezio to third, B Ryan to second. R Branyan hit for T Johnson.
J Grabow relieved F Osoria. R Branyan walked, S Spiezio scored, B Ryan to third,
A Miles to second. S Schumaker singled to center, B Ryan and A Miles scored,
R Branyan to second. R Sanchez relieved J Grabow. A Pujols flied out to right.
(4 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 6, PITTSBURGH 1.

PITTSBURGH 6TH: R Springer relieved T Johnson. A LaRoche struck out
swinging. X Nady grounded out to shortstop. J Bautista grounded out to
shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 6, PITTSBURGH 1.

ST LOUIS 7TH: S Youman relieved R Sanchez. R Ankiel popped out to
shortstop. R Ludwick grounded out to shortstop. S Spiezio popped out to
shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 6, PITTSBURGH 1.

PITTSBURGH 7TH: S Taguchi in center field. R Ankiel in right field.
R Franklin relieved R Springer. S Pearce doubled to deep right. J Castillo hit
a ground rule double to deep left, S Pearce scored. J Castillo to third on wild
pitch by R Franklin. C Maldonado popped out to second. N McLouth hit for
S Youman. N McLouth singled to right, J Castillo scored. R Flores relieved
R Franklin. N Morgan bunt grounded out to pitcher, N McLouth to second.
C Izturis singled to center, N McLouth scored. J Phelps hit for A LaRoche.
J Phelps walked, C Izturis to second. K Jimenez relieved R Flores. X Nady
struck out swinging. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 6, PITTSBURGH 4.

ST LOUIS 8TH: J Phelps at first base. T Armas relieved S Youman. K Stinnett
flied out to center. B Ryan grounded out to third. A Miles struck out
swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 6, PITTSBURGH 4.

PITTSBURGH 8TH: J Bautista popped out to second. S Pearce singled to
center. J Castillo flied out to right. B Barden at shortstop. J Isringhausen
relieved K Jimenez. C Maldonado singled to center, S Pearce to second.
R Paulino hit for T Armas. R Paulino struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) ST LOUIS 6, PITTSBURGH 4.

ST LOUIS 9TH: M Capps relieved T Armas. S Taguchi flied out to center.
S Schumaker doubled to deep left center. A Pujols struck out swinging.
R Ankiel flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 6, PITTSBURGH 4.

PITTSBURGH 9TH: N Morgan struck out looking. C Izturis lined out to third.
J Phelps walked. J Phelps to second on fielder's indifference. X Nady singled
to center, J Phelps scored. J Bautista flied out to center. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) ST LOUIS 6, PITTSBURGH 5.</div>

 

Cardinals end disappointing season with a win

<h3>ST LOUIS 6, PITTSBURGH 5</h3>By Chris Adamski
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The defending World Series champion St.Louis Cardinals had a season to forget. But at least they willhave fond memories of their last five games.


Skip Schumaker had a career-high four hits and had two RBI whileScott Spiezio hit his fourth home run as the Cardinalscompleted the season on a five-game winning streak afterfinishing a sweep of the last-place Pittsburgh Pirates with a6-5 win Sunday afternoon.


The contest was a bizarre one in which at least two obscuremajor league records were were set, as the two teams combined touse 18 pitchers in a nine-inning contest. The Houston Astrosand San Francisco Giants previously held the record of 16pitchers on September 28, 2002.


The Cardinals, who finish the season 78-84, scored the game'sfirst run in the second when pinch-hitter Jim Edmonds singled toscore Spiezio. Edmonds was batting for starter Troy Percival.

Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa had been coy all week about whowould start Sunday's game, and he elected to go with the38-year-old former closer.


It was the 639th appearance of Percival's career, but the12-year veteran of 324 saves had never started a contest. Indoing so, he broke a major-league record held by Chuck McElroy,who pitched in 632 games before making a start in 2000.

The Cardinals used 10 pitchers, with only eventual winner KipWells (7-17) going more than the 1 1/3 innings JasonIsringhausen did in earning his 32nd save.


Wells allowed only two hits in three shutout innings, strikingout four with no walks.


The 10 pitchers used by St. Louis tied a major-league record fora nine-inning game set by the Baltimore Orioles September 12,2004 and matched September 7 of this season by the ColoradoRockies.


Spiezio's shot to right came with nobody on and one out in thefourth to make it 2-0.


Pittsburgh cut that lead in half in the fifth on Nyjer Morgan'sRBI single that scored Jose Castillo.


But the Cardinals broke the game open with a four-run sixth thatincluded an RBI single by Brendan Ryan, a bases-loaded walk toRussell Branyan and a two-run single by Schumaker.

Bryan Bullington, a former No. 1 overall draft pick, got thestart for the Pirates on his 27th birthday.


It was the best start of Bullington's brief career. He allowedtwo runs and five hits in five innings, walking one and strikingout three. Bullington did not pitch the entire 2006 seasonafter undergoing right shoulder surgery in late 2005.

The Pirates scored three in the seventh to make a game of it at6-4, with Castillo, Nate McLouth and Cesar Izturis driving runsin.


Pittsburgh pulled within a run in the ninth on a two-out RBIsingle by Xavier Nady, but Isringhausen got Jose Bautista to flyout to center field to end the game and season for both teams.

 

Cardinals end disappointing season with a win

<h3>ST LOUIS 6, PITTSBURGH 5</h3>By Chris Adamski
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The defending World Series championSt.Louis Cardinals had a season to forget. But at least theywill have fond memories of their last five games.


Skip Schumaker had a career-high four hits and had two RBI whileScott Spiezio hit his fourth home run as the Cardinalscompleted the season on a five-game winning streak afterfinishing a sweep of the last-place Pittsburgh Pirates with a6-5 win Sunday afternoon.


The contest was a bizarre one in which at least two obscuremajor league records were were set, as the two teams combined touse 18 pitchers in a nine-inning contest. The Houston Astrosand San Francisco Giants previously held the record of 16pitchers on September 28, 2002.


"We emptied our bench, used our bullpen, and they did too,"Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "You're supposed to playthis game to win.


"You're not supposed to mail it in, hurry up and catch a plane.We were looking for something at the end to verify how we'vebeen playing, and we ended up winning games. It's a good messageto send to our fans."


The Cardinals, who finish the season 78-84, scored the game'sfirst run in the second when pinch-hitter Jim Edmonds singled toscore Spiezio. Edmonds was batting for starter Troy Percival.

La Russa had been coy all week about who would start Sunday'sgame, and he elected to go with the 38-year-old former closer.

It was the 639th appearance of Percival's career, but the12-year veteran of 324 saves had never started a contest. Indoing so, he broke a major-league record held by Chuck McElroy,who pitched in 632 games before making a start in 2000.

The Cardinals used 10 pitchers, with only eventual winner KipWells (7-17) going more than the 1 1/3 innings JasonIsringhausen did in earning his 32nd save.


"It was a bullpen game," La Russa said. "They used four pitchersin an inning, we used three. We're both trying to win a game."

Wells allowed only two hits in three shutout innings, strikingout four with no walks.


"It is what it is; I won, we won," Wells said. "Sure I wanted tostay in there but it's not my call. I know I have good enoughstuff to get people out, so we'll try to build on this."

The 10 pitchers used by St. Louis tied a major-league record fora nine-inning game set by the Baltimore Orioles September 12,2004 and matched September 7 of this season by the ColoradoRockies.


Spiezio's shot to right came with nobody on and one out in thefourth to make it 2-0.


Pittsburgh cut that lead in half in the fifth on Nyjer Morgan'sRBI single that scored Jose Castillo.


But the Cardinals broke the game open with a four-run sixth thatincluded an RBI single by Brendan Ryan, a bases-loaded walk toRussell Branyan and a two-run single by Schumaker.

"It was nice to get a win, obviously, and I'm glad it endedwell," Schumaker said. "And you're always playing for next year,too, so it was good to go out on a good note and play well."

Bryan Bullington, a former No. 1 overall draft pick, got thestart for the Pirates on his 27th birthday.


It was the best start of Bullington's brief career. He allowedtwo runs and five hits in five innings, walking one and strikingout three. Bullington did not pitch the entire 2006 seasonafter undergoing right shoulder surgery in late 2005.

"Overall, I threw strikes and was down in the zone and missedthe barrel for the most part," Bullington said. "Just getting achance to get up here and get some innings and get someexperience under my belt and have some success here at the endis good."


The Pirates scored three in the seventh to make a game of it at6-4, with Castillo, Nate McLouth and Cesar Izturis driving runsin.


Pittsburgh pulled within a run in the ninth on a two-out RBIsingle by Xavier Nady, but Isringhausen got Jose Bautista to flyout to center field to end the game and season for both teams.

"The season didn't turn out in the manner in which we liked tosee it, Pirates manager Jim Tracy said. "But I give an awful lotof credit to that group of guys out there. They put it all onthe line."