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

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

<h3>Cardinals begin final series of season vs. Pirates</h3>

<div class="pre">St. Louis (75-84) at Pittsburgh (68-91) 7:05 pm EDT</div>

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The St. Louis Cardinals wrap up theirdisappointing season as they begin a three-game series with thePittsburgh Pirates on Friday.


The defending World Series champions, the Cardinals have beeneliminated from postseason contention. However, they played acrucial role in the National League playoff picture aftertopping the New York Mets, 3-0, on Thursday to dump them into atie with the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East.

Now St. Louis, which has won two straight, will look to wrap upthe season on a high note against the Pirates, who are buried inthe basement of the NL Central.


Todd Wellemeyer (3-2, 3.28 ERA) will take the mound in theseries opener. He did not record a decision in the Cardinals'4-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Sunday in which hepermitted one hit and a walk with five strikeouts over fivescoreless frames.


The righthander is 1-1 with a 4.26 ERA in 11 relief appearancesvs. the Pirates.


His counterpart on the mound will be Zach Duke (3-8, 5.83), whowill be making just his second start since returning from anelbow injury that shelved him for nearly half the season. Inhis first start back on Saturday, he surrendered five runs -four earned - and nine hits over four innings in a 9-5 loss tothe Chicago Cubs.


The lefthanded Duke is 2-2 with a 4.54 ERA in six career startsagainst the Cardinals.


Pittsburgh, which is putting the wraps on its 15th consecutivelosing season, has dropped 10 of its last 12 games.

 

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

<h3>Wainwright, Gorzelanny look to cap seasons on winning note</h3>

<div class="pre">St Louis (76-84) at Pittsburgh (68-92) 7:05 pm EDT</div>

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) - The Pittsburgh Pirates and St. LouisCardinals are suffering through disappointing seasons, but theyhave each found pitchers they hope will anchor their rotationsfor years to come.


Adam Wainwright and Tom Gorzelanny will square off when theCardinals visit the Pirates on Saturday.


St. Louis took the series opener on Friday, snapping a 1-1 tiewith four runs in the eighth in a 6-1 victory.


Wainwright (13-12, 3.69 ERA) was on the mound in 2006 when theCardinals closed out their World Series victory over the DetroitTigers, but was made into a starter to begin this season. The26-year-old righthander was 7-7 with a 4.66 ERA in 17 startsbefore the All-Star break, but has pitched better since, going6-5 with a 2.62 ERA in 14 outings since the Midsummer Classic.

He has allowed more than three runs just once since the break -last Monday at Milwaukee, when he allowed four earned runs infive innings to suffer a loss.


Gorzelanny (14-9, 3.73) got off to a fast start this season, buthas struggled in the second half. The 25-year-old lefthanderwas 9-4 with a 3.10 ERA in 18 starts prior to the break, but hasbeen up and down since, compiling a 5-5 record and a 4.70 ERAin 13 outings since the break.


He pitched just 61 2/3 innings in his rookie campaign lastseason, but has bumped that total up to 195 2/3 enteringSaturday's contest.

 

NL: ST LOUIS (77-84) at PITTSBURGH (68-93)

<h3>Pujols, Cardinals close out season against Pirates</h3>

<div class="pre">St Louis (77-84) at Pittsburgh (68-93) 1:35 pm EDT</div>

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- It has not been the kind of season thedefending World Series champions wanted, but the St. LouisCardinals can still close it out on a good note Sunday.

Albert Pujols will look to continue his torrid hitting and helpthe Cardinals win their fifth consecutive game when they meetthe Pittsburgh Pirates in the regular-season finale.

Pujols has enjoyed five straight multi-hit games, going 9-for-19(.474) with one home run and four RBI over that stretch. The2005 National League MVP is batting .330 with 32 home runs and103 RBI this season.


St. Louis will hand the ball to righthander Braden Looper(12-12, 4.90 ERA), who has struggled in his last four starts.The 10-year veteran is 0-2 with an 8.14 ERA in that span and theCardinals are winless in each of those four contests.

Bryan Bullington (0-2, 6.00 ERA) will have the unenviable taskof shutting down Pujols and the rest of the Cardinals' offenseas he goes for his first career win for the Pirates.

The righthander, who will also be celebrating his 27th birthdaySunday, is making just his third career start.

 

NL: ST LOUIS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS AT PITTSBURGH -- LINEUPS

ST LOUIS PITTSBURGH
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
David Eckstein SS .311 3 31 Nyjer Morgan CF .294 1 6
Skip Schumaker LF .314 2 17 Cesar Izturis SS .256 0 15
Albert Pujols 1B .330 32 103 Adam Laroche 1B .273 21 88
Rick Ankiel CF .293 11 39 Xavier Nady LF .277 20 71
Ryan Ludwick RF .268 14 52 Jose Bautista 3B .256 15 63
Scott Spiezio 3B .264 3 30 Steven Pearce RF .281 0 6
Kelly Stinnett C .167 1 5 Matt Kata 2B .250 1 10
Troy Percival RHP .000 0 0 Carlos Maldonado C .150 2 4
(3-0, 1.85) Bryan Bullington RHP .500 0 0
Aaron Miles 2B .290 2 32 (0-2, 6.00)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS AT PITTSBURGH -- REVISED LINEUPS

ST LOUIS PITTSBURGH
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
David Eckstein SS .311 3 31 Nyjer Morgan CF .294 1 6
Skip Schumaker LF .314 2 17 Cesar Izturis SS .256 0 15
Albert Pujols 1B .330 32 103 Adam Laroche 1B .273 21 88
Rick Ankiel CF .293 11 39 Xavier Nady LF .277 20 71
Ryan Ludwick RF .268 14 52 Jose Bautista 3B .256 15 63
Scott Spiezio 3B .264 3 30 Steven Pearce RF .281 0 6
Kelly Stinnett C .167 1 5 Jose Castillo 2B .240 0 23
Troy Percival RHP .000 0 0 Carlos Maldonado C .150 2 4
(3-0, 1.85) Bryan Bullington RHP .500 0 0
Aaron Miles 2B .290 2 32 (0-2, 6.00)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NL AT PITTSBURGH
WARMUPS: STL - TROY PERCIVAL (3-0, 1.85)
PIT - BRYAN BULLINGTON (0-2, 6.00)

UMPIRES: HP - MIKE DIMURO
1B - GERRY DAVIS
2B - BRIAN GORMAN
3B - PAUL NAUERT

WEATHER: 73 Degrees, sunny
WIND: 6 mph, in from center</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NL AT PITTSBURGH -- REVISED WARMUPS
WARMUPS: STL - TROY PERCIVAL (3-0, 1.85)
PIT - BRYAN BULLINGTON (0-2, 6.00)

UMPIRES: HP - BRIAN GORMAN
1B - PAUL NAUERT
2B - MIKE DIMURO
3B - GERRY DAVIS

WEATHER: 73 Degrees, sunny
WIND: 6 mph, in from center</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NL AT PITTSBURGH
STARTING BATS: STL - TROY PERCIVAL AND KELLY STINNETT
PIT - BRYAN BULLINGTON AND CARLOS MALDONADO

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: D ECKSTEIN (.311, 3 HR, 31 RBI)
S SCHUMAKER (.314, 2 HR, 17 RBI)
A PUJOLS (.330, 32 HR, 103 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at PITTSBURGH

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - TROY PERCIVAL
PIT - BRYAN BULLINGTON

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: N MORGAN (.294, 1 HR, 6 RBI)
C IZTURIS (.256, 0 HR, 15 RBI)
A LAROCHE (.273, 21 HR, 88 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS (0) VS PITTSBURGH (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310
S Schumaker lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .318
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .330
R Ankiel cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .292
R Ludwick rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
S Spiezio 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
K Stinnett c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167
T Percival p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
A Miles 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 1

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Ankiel 1. Team LOB - 1.


PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Morgan cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
C Izturis ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
A LaRoche 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
X Nady lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
J Bautista 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
S Pearce rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
J Castillo 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240
C Maldonado c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .150
B Bullington p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 0 -- 0
PITTSBURGH - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
T Percival 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.85

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bullington 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.54

Pitches-strikes: B Bullington 13-10. Ground balls-fly balls: B Bullington
3-0. Batters faced: B Bullington 4.

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

Weather: 73 degrees, sunny. Wind: 6 mph, in from center.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NL AT PITTSBURGH
CONFIRMED STARTERS: STL - TROY PERCIVAL
PIT - BRYAN BULLINGTON</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at PITTSBURGH

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - TROY PERCIVAL
PIT - BRYAN BULLINGTON

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: R LUDWICK (.268, 14 HR, 52 RBI)
S SPIEZIO (.264, 3 HR, 30 RBI)
K STINNETT (.167, 1 HR, 5 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS (0) VS PITTSBURGH (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310
S Schumaker lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .318
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .330
R Ankiel cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .292
R Ludwick rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
S Spiezio 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
K Stinnett c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167
T Percival p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
A Miles 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 1

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Ankiel 1. Team LOB - 1.


PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Morgan cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .301
C Izturis ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .255
A LaRoche 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .273
X Nady lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .276
J Bautista 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
S Pearce rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
J Castillo 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240
C Maldonado c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .150
B Bullington p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 2 3

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 0 -- 0
PITTSBURGH - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
T Percival 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 1.80

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bullington 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.54

Pitches-strikes: T Percival 14-11; B Bullington 13-10. Ground balls-fly
balls: T Percival 0-1; B Bullington 3-0. Batters faced: T Percival 4; B
Bullington 4.

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

Weather: 73 degrees, sunny. Wind: 6 mph, in from center.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NL AT PITTSBURGH - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Edmonds hit for T Percival.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, S SPIEZIO ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 0
PITTSBURGH 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: J Edmonds (.250, 12 HR, 52 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NL AT PITTSBURGH - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JIM EDMONDS SCORED SCOTT SPIEZIO.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J EDMONDS ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 1
PITTSBURGH 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A MILES (.290, 2 HR, 32 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NL AT PITTSBURGH - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: B Thompson ran for J Edmonds.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, B THOMPSON ON FIRST, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 1
PITTSBURGH 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A Miles (.290, 2 HR, 32 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at PITTSBURGH

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - TROY PERCIVAL (OUT)
PIT - BRYAN BULLINGTON

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: J BAUTISTA (.256, 15 HR, 63 RBI)
S PEARCE (.281, 0 HR, 6 RBI)
J CASTILLO (.240, 0 HR, 23 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS (1) VS PITTSBURGH (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310
S Schumaker lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .318
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .330
R Ankiel cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .292
R Ludwick rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
S Spiezio 3b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .264
K Stinnett c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .165
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
A Miles 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .290

Totals 8 1 2 1 1 0 2

a-singled to shallow right for T Percival in the 2nd.

BATTING: RBI - J Edmonds (53). 2-out RBI - J Edmonds. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - R Ankiel 1. Team LOB - 2.


PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Morgan cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .301
C Izturis ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .255
A LaRoche 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .273
X Nady lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .276
J Bautista 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
S Pearce rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
J Castillo 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240
C Maldonado c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .150
B Bullington p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 2 3

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 01 -- 1
PITTSBURGH - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
T Percival 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 1.80

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bullington 2 2 1 1 1 0 0 5.79

WP - B Bullington. Pitches-strikes: T Percival 14-11; B Bullington 32-21.
Ground balls-fly balls: T Percival 0-1; B Bullington 4-2. Batters faced: T
Percival 4; B Bullington 9.

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

Weather: 73 degrees, sunny. Wind: 6 mph, in from center.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NL AT PITTSBURGH - PITCHING CHANGE
STL: KIP WELLS (6-17, 5.81) STARTING THE 2ND
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 1, PITTSBURGH 0

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: J BAUTISTA (.256, 15 HR, 63 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NL AT PITTSBURGH - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: K Wells relieved T Percival.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 1
PITTSBURGH 0 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: J Bautista (.256, 15 HR, 63 RBI)</div>