NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ST LOUIS 2 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 5 10 0 FLORIDA 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 8 1 (BOT 9) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - RYAN FRANKLIN (OUT) FLA - RENYEL PINTO DUE UP FOR FLORIDA: A AMEZAGA (.275, 1-FOR-3) R PINTO (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI) H RAMIREZ (.330, 1-FOR-4)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (5) VS FLORIDA (3) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 5 1 1 0 0 1 2 .306 S Schumaker cf 2 1 1 0 2 0 0 .303 a-B Ryan ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .262 A Pujols 1b 3 0 1 0 2 1 1 .315 C Duncan lf 3 1 2 3 0 1 4 .294 R Franklin p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 b-R Ludwick ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .262 S Rolen 3b 4 0 0 0 1 1 7 .262 J Encarnacion rf 2 1 0 0 2 1 2 .272 A Kennedy 2b 4 1 3 1 0 0 0 .227 G Bennett c 3 0 1 1 0 0 1 .222 B Looper p 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 .143 S Taguchi lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .293 Totals 31 5 10 5 8 6 19 a-struck out swinging for S Schumaker in the 9th; b-singled to right center for R Franklin in the 9th. BATTING: 2B - A Kennedy (9, J Miller). HR - C Duncan (18, 1st inning off B Kim 1 on, 2 Out), A Kennedy (2, 6th inning off B Kim 0 on, 1 Out). S - G Bennett. SF - C Duncan. RBI - C Duncan 3 (51), G Bennett (11), A Kennedy (17). 2-out RBI - C Duncan 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - S Rolen 1, J Encarnacion 1, B Looper 1, D Eckstein 1. GIDP - G Bennett, S Rolen. Team LOB - 9. BASERUNNING: SB - J Encarnacion (1, 2nd base off B Kim/M Treanor). CS - G Bennett (1, 2nd base by B Kim/M Treanor), S Rolen (3, 2nd base by B Kim/M Treanor). FLORIDA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg H Ramirez ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .330 D Uggla 2b 3 0 0 0 1 2 2 .241 M Cabrera 3b 4 1 1 1 0 1 2 .325 M Jacobs 1b 4 1 2 0 0 1 0 .281 J Willingham lf 3 1 0 0 0 1 1 .259 J Hermida rf 4 0 2 1 0 0 1 .246 M Treanor c 2 0 0 1 0 0 2 .279 b-M Olivo ph-c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .247 A Amezaga cf 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 .275 B Kim p 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .067 T Tankersley p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 L Gardner p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 a-J Borchard ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .196 J Miller p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 R Pinto p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 31 3 8 3 1 6 13 a-flied out to left for L Gardner in the 7th; b-popped out to second for M Treanor in the 8th. BATTING: 2B - M Jacobs (12, B Looper); B Kim (1, B Looper). HR - M Cabrera (22, 8th inning off R Franklin 0 on, 0 Out). SF - M Treanor. RBI - J Hermida (30), M Treanor (6), M Cabrera (66). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Cabrera 1, D Uggla 1. Team LOB - 7. FIELDING: E - B Kim (2, throw). DP: 2 (H Ramirez-D Uggla-M Jacobs 2). ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 200 101 100 -- 5 FLORIDA - 020 000 01 -- 3 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era B Looper 6 1/3 5 2 2 1 4 0 4.60 R Franklin 1 2/3 3 1 1 0 2 1 1.35 FLORIDA ip h r er bb so hr era B Kim 6 8 5 5 7 4 2 5.18 T Tankersley 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.56 L Gardner 2/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.27 J Miller 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.20 R Pinto 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 3.86 B Kim pitched to 3 batters in the 7th. IBB - A Pujols (by B Kim). HBP - J Willingham (by B Looper). Pitches-strikes: B Looper 88-58; R Franklin 33-20; B Kim 112-57; T Tankersley 1-1; L Gardner 5-4; J Miller 20-12; R Pinto 11-7. Ground balls-fly balls: B Looper 5-10; R Franklin 1-2; B Kim 9-3; T Tankersley 0-1; L Gardner 0-1; J Miller 2-1; R Pinto 2-0. Batters faced: B Looper 26; R Franklin 8; B Kim 30; T Tankersley 1; L Gardner 2; J Miller 4; R Pinto 4. UMPIRES: HP--Joe West. 1B--Ed Rapuano. 2B--Ed Hickox. 3B--C.B. Bucknor. Weather: 87 degrees, clear. Wind: 11 mph, in from center.</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA <div class="pre">NL AT FLORIDA - PITCHING CHANGE STL: JASON ISRINGHAUSEN (3-0, 1.49) STARTING THE 9TH CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 5, FLORIDA 3 DUE UP FOR FLORIDA: A AMEZAGA (.275, 1-FOR-3)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA <div class="pre">NL AT FLORIDA - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: J Isringhausen relieved R Franklin. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 5 FLORIDA 3 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR FLORIDA: A Amezaga (.275, 1-FOR-3)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA <div class="pre">NL AT FLORIDA - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: R Ludwick in left field. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 5 FLORIDA 3 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR FLORIDA: A Amezaga (.275, 1-FOR-3)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA <div class="pre">NL AT FLORIDA - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: S Taguchi in center field. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 5 FLORIDA 3 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR FLORIDA: A Amezaga (.275, 1-FOR-3)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA <div class="pre">NL AT FLORIDA - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: T Linden hit for R Pinto. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 5 FLORIDA 3 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR FLORIDA: T Linden (.223, 1 HR, 5 RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA <div class="pre">NL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ST LOUIS 2 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 5 10 0 FLORIDA 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 8 1 (FINAL) BATTERIES: STL - BRADEN LOOPER, RYAN FRANKLIN (7TH), JASON ISRINGHAUSEN (9TH) AND GARY BENNETT FLA - BYUNG-HYUN KIM, TAYLOR TANKERSLEY (7TH), LEE GARDNER (7TH), JUSTIN MILLER (8TH), RENYEL PINTO (9TH) AND MATT TREANOR, MIGUEL OLIVO (9TH) HOME RUNS: STL - CHRIS DUNCAN (18) OFF BYUNG-HYUN KIM IN THE 1ST, 1 ON ADAM KENNEDY (2) OFF BYUNG-HYUN KIM IN THE 6TH, 0 ON FLA - MIGUEL CABRERA (22) OFF RYAN FRANKLIN IN THE 8TH, 0 ON</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA <div class="pre">NL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ST LOUIS 2 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 5 10 0 FLORIDA 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 8 1 (FINAL) BATTERIES: STL - BRADEN LOOPER, RYAN FRANKLIN (7TH), JASON ISRINGHAUSEN (9TH) AND GARY BENNETT FLA - BYUNG-HYUN KIM, TAYLOR TANKERSLEY (7TH), LEE GARDNER (7TH), JUSTIN MILLER (8TH), RENYEL PINTO (9TH) AND MATT TREANOR, MIGUEL OLIVO (9TH) WP - BRADEN LOOPER (7-7) LP - BYUNG-HYUN KIM (4-5) SAVE - JASON ISRINGHAUSEN (18) HOME RUNS: STL - CHRIS DUNCAN (18) OFF BYUNG-HYUN KIM IN THE 1ST, 1 ON ADAM KENNEDY (2) OFF BYUNG-HYUN KIM IN THE 6TH, 0 ON FLA - MIGUEL CABRERA (22) OFF RYAN FRANKLIN IN THE 8TH, 0 ON TIME: 3:05 ATT: 13,827 PROBABLES: STL - BRAD THOMPSON (6-3, 5.10) FLA - RICK VANDEN HURK (2-2, 8.38)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (5) VS FLORIDA (3) - FINAL ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 5 1 1 0 0 1 2 .306 S Schumaker cf 2 1 1 0 2 0 0 .303 a-B Ryan ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .262 J Isringhausen p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 A Pujols 1b 3 0 1 0 2 1 1 .315 C Duncan lf 3 1 2 3 0 1 4 .294 R Franklin p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 b-R Ludwick ph-lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .262 S Rolen 3b 4 0 0 0 1 1 7 .262 J Encarnacion rf 2 1 0 0 2 1 2 .272 A Kennedy 2b 4 1 3 1 0 0 0 .227 G Bennett c 3 0 1 1 0 0 1 .222 B Looper p 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 .143 S Taguchi lf-cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .293 Totals 31 5 10 5 8 6 19 a-struck out swinging for S Schumaker in the 9th; b-singled to right center for R Franklin in the 9th. BATTING: 2B - A Kennedy (9, J Miller). HR - C Duncan (18, 1st inning off B Kim 1 on, 2 Out), A Kennedy (2, 6th inning off B Kim 0 on, 1 Out). S - G Bennett. SF - C Duncan. RBI - C Duncan 3 (51), G Bennett (11), A Kennedy (17). 2-out RBI - C Duncan 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - S Rolen 1, J Encarnacion 1, B Looper 1, D Eckstein 1. GIDP - G Bennett, S Rolen. Team LOB - 9. BASERUNNING: SB - J Encarnacion (1, 2nd base off B Kim/M Treanor). CS - G Bennett (1, 2nd base by B Kim/M Treanor), S Rolen (3, 2nd base by B Kim/M Treanor). FLORIDA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg H Ramirez ss 5 0 1 0 0 0 1 .329 D Uggla 2b 3 0 0 0 1 2 2 .241 M Cabrera 3b 4 1 1 1 0 1 2 .325 M Jacobs 1b 4 1 2 0 0 1 0 .281 J Willingham lf 3 1 0 0 0 1 1 .259 J Hermida rf 4 0 2 1 0 0 1 .246 M Treanor c 2 0 0 1 0 0 2 .279 b-M Olivo ph-c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .247 A Amezaga cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .274 B Kim p 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .067 T Tankersley p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 L Gardner p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 a-J Borchard ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .196 J Miller p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 R Pinto p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 c-T Linden ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .221 Totals 34 3 8 3 1 7 13 a-flied out to left for L Gardner in the 7th; b-popped out to second for M Treanor in the 8th; c-struck out looking for R Pinto in the 9th. BATTING: 2B - M Jacobs (12, B Looper); B Kim (1, B Looper). HR - M Cabrera (22, 8th inning off R Franklin 0 on, 0 Out). SF - M Treanor. RBI - J Hermida (30), M Treanor (6), M Cabrera (66). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Cabrera 1, D Uggla 1. Team LOB - 7. FIELDING: E - B Kim (2, throw). DP: 2 (H Ramirez-D Uggla-M Jacobs 2). ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 200 101 100 -- 5 FLORIDA - 020 000 010 -- 3 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era B Looper (W, 7-7) 6 1/3 5 2 2 1 4 0 4.60 R Franklin (H, 14) 1 2/3 3 1 1 0 2 1 1.35 J Isringhausen (S, 18) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.45 FLORIDA ip h r er bb so hr era B Kim (L, 4-5) 6 8 5 5 7 4 2 5.18 T Tankersley 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.56 L Gardner 2/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.27 J Miller 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.20 R Pinto 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 3.86 B Kim pitched to 3 batters in the 7th. IBB - A Pujols (by B Kim). HBP - J Willingham (by B Looper). Pitches-strikes: B Looper 88-58; R Franklin 33-20; J Isringhausen 12-9; B Kim 112-57; T Tankersley 1-1; L Gardner 5-4; J Miller 20-12; R Pinto 11-7. Ground balls-fly balls: B Looper 5-10; R Franklin 1-2; J Isringhausen 2-0; B Kim 9-3; T Tankersley 0-1; L Gardner 0-1; J Miller 2-1; R Pinto 2-0. Batters faced: B Looper 26; R Franklin 8; J Isringhausen 3; B Kim 30; T Tankersley 1; L Gardner 2; J Miller 4; R Pinto 4. UMPIRES: HP--Joe West. 1B--Ed Rapuano. 2B--Ed Hickox. 3B--C.B. Bucknor. T--3:05. Att--13,827. Weather: 87 degrees, clear. Wind: 11 mph, in from center.</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ST LOUIS (5) AT FLORIDA (3) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ST LOUIS 1ST: D Eckstein struck out swinging. S Schumaker walked. A Pujols struck out swinging. C Duncan homered to right, S Schumaker scored. S Rolen walked. S Rolen caught stealing second, catcher to second.(2 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 2, FLORIDA 0. FLORIDA 2ND: M Jacobs doubled to center. J Willingham hit by pitch. J Hermida singled to center, M Jacobs scored, J Willingham to third. M Treanor hit sacrifice fly to right, J Willingham scored. A Amezaga struck out swinging. B Kim grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, J Hermida out at second. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 2, FLORIDA 2. ST LOUIS 4TH: J Encarnacion walked. J Encarnacion stole second. A Kennedy grounded out to second, J Encarnacion to third. G Bennett singled to left, J Encarnacion scored. G Bennett caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. B Looper walked. D Eckstein grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, B Looper out at second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 3, FLORIDA 2. ST LOUIS 6TH: J Encarnacion grounded out to shortstop. A Kennedy homered to right. G Bennett grounded out to shortstop. B Looper grounded out to first. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 4, FLORIDA 2. ST LOUIS 7TH: D Eckstein singled to center. S Schumaker singled to center, D Eckstein to second. D Eckstein safe at third, S Schumaker safe at second on throwing error by pitcher B Kim. A Pujols intentionally walked. T Tankersley relieved B Kim. C Duncan hit sacrifice fly to left, D Eckstein scored. L Gardner relieved T Tankersley. S Rolen fouled out to first. J Encarnacion struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) ST LOUIS 5, FLORIDA 2. FLORIDA 8TH: M Cabrera homered to right. M Jacobs singled to right. J Willingham struck out looking. J Hermida grounded into fielder's choice to second, M Jacobs out at second. M Olivo hit for M Treanor. M Olivo popped out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 5, FLORIDA 3.</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ST LOUIS (5) AT FLORIDA (3) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ St Louis Starting Lineups -- D Eckstein SS, S Schumaker CF, A Pujols 1B, C Duncan LF, S Rolen 3B, J Encarnacion RF, A Kennedy 2B, G Bennett C, B Looper RHP. Florida Starting Lineups -- H Ramirez SS, D Uggla 2B, M Cabrera 3B, M Jacobs 1B, J Willingham LF, J Hermida RF, M Treanor C, A Amezaga CF, B Kim RHP. Umpires -- Joe West (HP), Ed Rapuano (1B), Ed Hickox (2B), C.B. Bucknor (3B). Gametime Weather: 87 degrees, Clear, wind in from center at 11 mph. ST LOUIS 1ST: D Eckstein struck out swinging. S Schumaker walked. A Pujols struck out swinging. C Duncan homered to right, S Schumaker scored. S Rolen walked. S Rolen caught stealing second, catcher to second.(2 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 2, FLORIDA 0. FLORIDA 1ST: H Ramirez grounded out to third. D Uggla popped out to second. M Cabrera flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 2, FLORIDA 0. ST LOUIS 2ND: J Encarnacion walked. A Kennedy singled to left, J Encarnacion to second. G Bennett grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, A Kennedy out at second, J Encarnacion to third. B Looper grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 2, FLORIDA 0. FLORIDA 2ND: M Jacobs doubled to center. J Willingham hit by pitch. J Hermida singled to center, M Jacobs scored, J Willingham to third. M Treanor hit sacrifice fly to right, J Willingham scored. A Amezaga struck out swinging. B Kim grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, J Hermida out at second. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 2, FLORIDA 2. ST LOUIS 3RD: D Eckstein flied out to right. S Schumaker walked. A Pujols singled to right center, S Schumaker to third. C Duncan struck out looking. S Rolen struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 2, FLORIDA 2. FLORIDA 3RD: H Ramirez flied out to right. D Uggla struck out swinging. M Cabrera struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 2, FLORIDA 2. ST LOUIS 4TH: J Encarnacion walked. J Encarnacion stole second. A Kennedy grounded out to second, J Encarnacion to third. G Bennett singled to left, J Encarnacion scored. G Bennett caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. B Looper walked. D Eckstein grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, B Looper out at second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 3, FLORIDA 2. FLORIDA 4TH: M Jacobs struck out swinging. J Willingham flied out to left. J Hermida singled to left. M Treanor flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 3, FLORIDA 2. ST LOUIS 5TH: S Schumaker grounded out to first. A Pujols flied out to center. C Duncan singled to right. S Rolen lined out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 3, FLORIDA 2. FLORIDA 5TH: A Amezaga grounded out to shortstop. B Kim doubled to deep left center. H Ramirez grounded out to third. D Uggla walked. M Cabrera popped out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 3, FLORIDA 2. ST LOUIS 6TH: J Encarnacion grounded out to shortstop. A Kennedy homered to right. G Bennett grounded out to shortstop. B Looper grounded out to first. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 4, FLORIDA 2. FLORIDA 6TH: M Jacobs grounded out to third. J Willingham flied out to center. J Hermida flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 4, FLORIDA 2. ST LOUIS 7TH: D Eckstein singled to center. S Schumaker singled to center, D Eckstein to second. D Eckstein safe at third, S Schumaker safe at second on throwing error by pitcher B Kim. A Pujols intentionally walked. T Tankersley relieved B Kim. C Duncan hit sacrifice fly to left, D Eckstein scored. L Gardner relieved T Tankersley. S Rolen fouled out to first. J Encarnacion struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) ST LOUIS 5, FLORIDA 2. FLORIDA 7TH: M Treanor flied out to right. A Amezaga reached on infield single to shortstop. J Borchard hit for L Gardner. R Franklin relieved B Looper. S Taguchi in left field. J Borchard flied out to left. H Ramirez singled to right, A Amezaga to third. D Uggla struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 5, FLORIDA 2. ST LOUIS 8TH: J Miller relieved L Gardner. A Kennedy doubled to deep left center. G Bennett sacrificed to third, A Kennedy to third. S Taguchi grounded out to third. D Eckstein lined out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 5, FLORIDA 2. FLORIDA 8TH: M Cabrera homered to right. M Jacobs singled to right. J Willingham struck out looking. J Hermida grounded into fielder's choice to second, M Jacobs out at second. M Olivo hit for M Treanor. M Olivo popped out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 5, FLORIDA 3. ST LOUIS 9TH: M Olivo catching. R Pinto relieved J Miller. B Ryan hit for S Schumaker. B Ryan struck out swinging. A Pujols walked. R Ludwick hit for R Franklin. R Ludwick singled to right center, A Pujols to third. S Rolen grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, R Ludwick out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 5, FLORIDA 3. FLORIDA 9TH: J Isringhausen relieved R Franklin. R Ludwick in left field. S Taguchi in center field. A Amezaga grounded out to second. T Linden hit for R Pinto. T Linden struck out looking. H Ramirez grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 5, FLORIDA 3.</div>
Looper, Duncan shine as Cardinals beat Marlins in opener <h3>ST LOUIS 5, FLORIDA 3</h3>MIAMI (Ticker) -- Braden Looper continues to feel comfortablepitching at Dolphin Stadium. Looper finally broke through as the defending World Serieschampion St. Louis Cardinals posted a 5-3 victory over theFlorida Marlins in the opener of a three-game series on Monday. Looper (7-7) has struggled on the mound, going winless over hisprevious six starts. The former Marlin began the campaign 5-2with a 2.29 ERA in his first eight outings. A converted starter this season, Looper scattered two runs andfive hits with four strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings for his firstvictory since tossing six strong frames for a 3-1 win againstPittsburgh on May 24. The righthander improved to 13-6 record with 27 saves in 201career outings in South Beach. Looper was a mainstay in thebullpen for the Marlins from 1999-2003. With the game tied at 2-2 in the fourth, Juan Encarnacionwalked, stole second and took third on a groundout. GaryBennett brought him home when he stroked the go-ahead RBI singleoff Marlins starter Byung-Hyun Kim (4-5). Adam Kennedy blasted his second homer of the season and in asmany nights with a solo shot in the sixth as St. Louis pushedits advantage to 4-2. The Cardinals, who have won eight of 10 here overall, got on theboard when Skip Schumaker walked and came around on ChrisDuncan's 18th homer off Kim in the first for a 2-0 lead. St. Louis closer Jason Isringhausen slammed the door in ninthfor his 18th save. Florida had a chance to draw close in the seventh as HanleyRamirez's single off reliever Ryan Franklin put runners on firstand third. Franklin, however, struck out Dan Uggla to end thethreat. Kim gave up five runs and eight hits and issued a season-worstseven walks, falling to 1-3 all-time against the Cardinals. Therighthander tried to help his own cause with a one-out doublein the fifth inning, but was stranded when Looper escaped thejam. Jeremy Hermida and Matt Treanor each drove in runs in the secondfor the Marlins, who had their modest two-game winning streakended.
Looper, Duncan shine as Cardinals beat Marlins in opener <h3>ST LOUIS 5, FLORIDA 3</h3>MIAMI (Ticker) -- Braden Looper continues to feel comfortablepitching at Dolphin Stadium. Looper finally broke through as the defending World Serieschampion St. Louis Cardinals posted a 5-3 victory over theFlorida Marlins in the opener of a three-game series on Monday. Looper (7-7) has struggled on the mound, going winless over hisprevious six starts. The former Marlin began the campaign 5-2with a 2.29 ERA in his first eight outings. "I feel like I've had some good starts, but I just wasn'twinning," Looper said. "It's not like I haven't pitched well,but it's one of those things you have to go through, I guess." A converted starter this season, Looper scattered two runs andfive hits with four strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings for his firstvictory since tossing six strong frames for a 3-1 win againstPittsburgh on May 24. "He's a competitor. He hasn't gotten a lot of wins for hisefforts but tonight he got the decision and that's whatmatters," St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said. "He probablycould have gone a little further, but I wanted to put it in thehands of our relievers." The righthander improved to 13-6 record with 27 saves in 201career outings in South Beach. Looper was a mainstay in thebullpen for the Marlins from 1999-2003. "It's always a little different when you face a former team, butmost of these (Marlins) weren't there then," Looper said."Still, you have some feelings coming down here knowing thesuccess you've had." Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez knows all about Looper'sfastball, but he was even more impressed with the way he usedhis other pitches. "He's always thrown hard, but he's come up with a couple of niceother pitches which makes him even tougher," Gonzalez said."He's always had a good arm and been very effective as astarter." With the game tied at 2-2 in the fourth, Juan Encarnacionwalked, stole second and took third on a groundout. GaryBennett brought the outfielder home with the go-ahead RBI singleoff Marlins starter Byung-Hyun Kim (4-5). Adam Kennedy blasted his second homer of the season and in asmany nights with a solo shot in the sixth as St. Louis pushedits advantage to 4-2. "I've been trying to keep the right approach and stay positive,"Kennedy said. "It's just time to gear it up and haveconfidence. I know what I'm capable of, and just have to keepmaking good swings." La Russa isn't surprised by Kennedy's breakout. "That's the way he's played his whole career. The guy's acompetitor and you know it's just a matter of time before heputs it all together," La Russa said. "That's a big lift for uswith him getting hot, no question." The Cardinals, who have won eight of 10 here overall, got on theboard when Skip Schumaker walked and came around on ChrisDuncan's 18th homer off Kim in the first for a 2-0 lead. Duncan added an insurance run with a sacrifice fly in theseventh to plate World Series MVP David Eckstein. St. Louis closer Jason Isringhausen slammed the door in theninth for his 18th save. Florida had a chance to draw close in the seventh as HanleyRamirez's single off reliever Ryan Franklin put runners on firstand third. Franklin, however, struck out Dan Uggla to end thethreat. In six-plus innings, Kim gave up five runs and eight hits andissued a season-worst seven walks, falling to 1-3 all-timeagainst the Cardinals. The righthander tried to help his owncause with a one-out double in the fifth inning, but wasstranded when Looper escaped the jam. "They asked me if I wanted to go out there (in the seventh) andI said yes," Kim said through an interpretor. "I was just upsetat myself." Jeremy Hermida and Matt Treanor each drove in runs in the secondfor the Marlins, who had their modest two-game winning streakended.
