GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: ST LOUIS (43-48) at ATLANTA (50-45)

NL: ST LOUIS (43-48) at ATLANTA (50-45)

<h3>Hudson hopes to end Braves' three-game skid</h3>

St Louis (43-48) at Atlanta (50-45) 7:35 pm EDT


ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Tim Hudson hopes to help the Atlanta Bravesforget about an embarrassing sweep.


Hudson takes the hill Thursday when the Braves host the St.Louis Cardinals in the opener of a four-game series.

After winning seven of eight contests from July 4-15, Atlantasuffered a surprising three-game series sweep at the hands ofthe Cincinnati Reds, who entered the series with the worstrecord in the National League.


The Reds capped the unlikely sweep by persevering for a 5-4victory in 15 innings Wednesday afternoon.


Edgar Renteria had four hits for the Braves, who pounded out 18hits but grounded into four double plays and stranded 14baserunners.


A day later, the Braves turn to Hudson (9-5, 3.35 ERA), who haswon three straight decisions. The righthander hurled sevenscoreless innings in his last start, leading Atlanta to an easy9-1 victory over Pittsburgh last Friday.


In four career starts against the Cardinals, the 32-year-oldHudson is 2-1 with a 4.85 ERA.


St. Louis counters with Mike Maroth (0-2, 5.75), who will try topick up his first win since coming over from the Detroit Tigersin a trade last month.


In his last start, the lefthanded Maroth was pounded for eightruns and nine hits in five innings of a 10-4 setback atPhiladelphia on Saturday.

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ATLANTA

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

ST LOUIS ATLANTA
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
David Eckstein SS .308 2 13 Yunel Escobar 2B .316 1 11
Adam Kennedy 2B .226 2 17 Edgar Renteria SS .328 10 48
Albert Pujols 1B .317 20 58 Chipper Jones 3B .333 15 43
Chris Duncan LF .291 18 51 Andruw Jones CF .216 18 62
Jim Edmonds CF .238 7 24 Jeff Francoeur RF .290 10 63
Juan Encarnacion RF .277 7 32 Matt Diaz LF .350 4 20
Aaron Miles 3B .281 0 14 Julio Franco 1B .200 1 8
Gary Bennett C .222 1 11 Jarrod Saltalamacc C .287 4 12
Mike Maroth LHP .286 0 1 Tim Hudson RHP .200 0 3
(0-2, 5.75) (9-5, 3.35)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA
WARMUPS: STL - MIKE MAROTH (0-2, 5.75)
ATL - TIM HUDSON (9-5, 3.35)

UMPIRES: HP - LANCE BARKSDALE
1B - GARY CEDERSTROM
2B - JIM REYNOLDS
3B - TIM WELKE

WEATHER: 80 Degrees, cloudy
WIND: 8 mph, left to right</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA -- REVISED WARMUPS
WARMUPS: STL - MIKE MAROTH (0-2, 5.75)
ATL - TIM HUDSON (9-5, 3.35)

UMPIRES: HP - LANCE BARKSDALE
1B - GARY CEDERSTROM
2B - JIM REYNOLDS
3B - BILL WELKE

WEATHER: 80 Degrees, cloudy
WIND: 8 mph, left to right</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA
STARTING BATS: STL - MIKE MAROTH AND GARY BENNETT
ATL - TIM HUDSON AND JARROD SALTALAMACCHIA

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: D ECKSTEIN (.308, 2 HR, 13 RBI)
A KENNEDY (.226, 2 HR, 17 RBI)
A PUJOLS (.317, 20 HR, 58 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ATLANTA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - MIKE MAROTH
ATL - TIM HUDSON

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: Y ESCOBAR (.316, 1 HR, 11 RBI)
E RENTERIA (.328, 10 HR, 48 RBI)
C JONES (.333, 15 HR, 43 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ATLANTA

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

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311
A Kennedy 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .316
C Duncan lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .290
J Edmonds cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
J Encarnacion rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
A Miles 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
G Bennett c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222
M Maroth p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286

Totals 3 0 1 0 0 1 2

BATTING: S - A Kennedy. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Duncan 1.
Team LOB - 1.


ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
Y Escobar 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
E Renteria ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .328
C Jones 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .216
J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
M Diaz lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .350
J Franco 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
J Saltalamacchia c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
T Hudson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 0 -- 0
ATLANTA - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
M Maroth 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.75

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
T Hudson 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.32

Pitches-strikes: T Hudson 9-7. Ground balls-fly balls: T Hudson 2-0. Batters
faced: T Hudson 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Gary Cederstrom. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Bill
Welke.

Weather: 80 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 2 mph, swirling.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA
CONFIRMED STARTERS: STL - MIKE MAROTH
ATL - TIM HUDSON</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY ANDRUW JONES (19) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN
THE 1ST OFF MIKE MAROTH SCORED CHIPPER JONES.
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 0, ATLANTA 2

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: J FRANCOEUR (.290, 10 HR, 63 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ATLANTA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - MIKE MAROTH
ATL - TIM HUDSON

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: J EDMONDS (.238, 7 HR, 24 RBI)
J ENCARNACION (.277, 7 HR, 32 RBI)
A MILES (.281, 0 HR, 14 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS (0) VS ATLANTA (2) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311
A Kennedy 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .316
C Duncan lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .290
J Edmonds cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
J Encarnacion rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
A Miles 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
G Bennett c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222
M Maroth p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286

Totals 3 0 1 0 0 1 2

BATTING: S - A Kennedy. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Duncan 1.
Team LOB - 1.


ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
Y Escobar 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .314
E Renteria ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .327
C Jones 3b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .333
A Jones cf 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .218
J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
M Diaz lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .350
J Franco 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
J Saltalamacchia c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
T Hudson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200

Totals 4 2 1 2 1 0 0

BATTING: HR - A Jones (19, 1st inning off M Maroth 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - A Jones
2 (64). 2-out RBI - A Jones 2. Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 0 -- 0
ATLANTA - 2 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
M Maroth 1 1 2 2 1 0 1 6.33

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
T Hudson 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.32

Pitches-strikes: M Maroth 16-9; T Hudson 9-7. Ground balls-fly balls: M
Maroth 2-1; T Hudson 2-0. Batters faced: M Maroth 5; T Hudson 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Gary Cederstrom. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Bill
Welke.

Weather: 80 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 2 mph, swirling.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ATLANTA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - MIKE MAROTH
ATL - TIM HUDSON

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: M DIAZ (.350, 4 HR, 20 RBI)
J FRANCO (.200, 1 HR, 8 RBI)
J SALTALAMACCHIA (.287, 4 HR, 12 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ATLANTA

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

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311
A Kennedy 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .316
C Duncan lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .290
J Edmonds cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .242
J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .276
A Miles 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .279
G Bennett c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222
M Maroth p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286

Totals 6 0 2 0 0 1 4

BATTING: S - A Kennedy. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Duncan 1.
GIDP - A Miles. Team LOB - 1.


ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
Y Escobar 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .314
E Renteria ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .327
C Jones 3b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .333
A Jones cf 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .218
J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
M Diaz lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .350
J Franco 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
J Saltalamacchia c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
T Hudson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200

Totals 4 2 1 2 1 0 0

BATTING: HR - A Jones (19, 1st inning off M Maroth 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - A Jones
2 (64). 2-out RBI - A Jones 2. Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (Y Escobar-E Renteria-J Franco).


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 00 -- 0
ATLANTA - 2 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
M Maroth 1 1 2 2 1 0 1 6.33

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
T Hudson 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 3.30

Pitches-strikes: M Maroth 16-9; T Hudson 22-14. Ground balls-fly balls: M
Maroth 2-1; T Hudson 4-1. Batters faced: M Maroth 5; T Hudson 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Gary Cederstrom. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Bill
Welke.

Weather: 80 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 2 mph, swirling.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY MATT DIAZ (5) TO CENTER WITH 0 OUT IN THE
2ND OFF MIKE MAROTH.
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 0, ATLANTA 3

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: J FRANCO (.200, 1 HR, 8 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ATLANTA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - MIKE MAROTH
ATL - TIM HUDSON

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: G BENNETT (.222, 1 HR, 11 RBI)
M MAROTH (.286, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
D ECKSTEIN (.311, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS (0) VS ATLANTA (3) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311
A Kennedy 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .316
C Duncan lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .290
J Edmonds cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .242
J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .276
A Miles 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .279
G Bennett c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222
M Maroth p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286

Totals 6 0 2 0 0 1 4

BATTING: S - A Kennedy. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Duncan 1.
GIDP - A Miles. Team LOB - 1.


ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
Y Escobar 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .314
E Renteria ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .327
C Jones 3b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .333
A Jones cf 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .218
J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
M Diaz lf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .353
J Franco 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .196
J Saltalamacchia c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
T Hudson p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .195

Totals 8 3 2 3 1 0 0

BATTING: HR - A Jones (19, 1st inning off M Maroth 1 on, 2 Out), M Diaz (5, 2nd
inning off M Maroth 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - A Jones 2 (64), M Diaz (21). 2-out RBI
- A Jones 2. Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (Y Escobar-E Renteria-J Franco).


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 00 -- 0
ATLANTA - 21 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
M Maroth 2 2 3 3 1 0 2 6.45

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
T Hudson 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 3.30

Pitches-strikes: M Maroth 23-15; T Hudson 22-14. Ground balls-fly balls: M
Maroth 4-2; T Hudson 4-1. Batters faced: M Maroth 9; T Hudson 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Gary Cederstrom. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Bill
Welke.

Weather: 80 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 2 mph, swirling.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ATLANTA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - MIKE MAROTH
ATL - TIM HUDSON

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: Y ESCOBAR (.314, 0-FOR-1)
E RENTERIA (.327, 0-FOR-1)
C JONES (.333, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS (0) VS ATLANTA (3) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .310
A Kennedy 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .316
C Duncan lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .290
J Edmonds cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .242
J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .276
A Miles 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .279
G Bennett c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .220
M Maroth p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250

Totals 9 0 2 0 0 1 4

BATTING: S - A Kennedy. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Duncan 1.
GIDP - A Miles. Team LOB - 1.


ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
Y Escobar 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .314
E Renteria ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .327
C Jones 3b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .333
A Jones cf 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .218
J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
M Diaz lf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .353
J Franco 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .196
J Saltalamacchia c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
T Hudson p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .195

Totals 8 3 2 3 1 0 0

BATTING: HR - A Jones (19, 1st inning off M Maroth 1 on, 2 Out), M Diaz (5, 2nd
inning off M Maroth 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - A Jones 2 (64), M Diaz (21). 2-out RBI
- A Jones 2. Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (Y Escobar-E Renteria-J Franco).


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 000 -- 0
ATLANTA - 21 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
M Maroth 2 2 3 3 1 0 2 6.45

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
T Hudson 3 2 0 0 0 1 0 3.27

Pitches-strikes: M Maroth 23-15; T Hudson 35-24. Ground balls-fly balls: M
Maroth 4-2; T Hudson 7-1. Batters faced: M Maroth 9; T Hudson 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Gary Cederstrom. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Bill
Welke.

Weather: 80 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 2 mph, swirling.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JEFF FRANCOEUR SCORED CHIPPER JONES.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J FRANCOEUR ON FIRST, A JONES ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 0
ATLANTA 4 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: M DIAZ (.353, 1-FOR-1, HR, RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MATT DIAZ SCORED ANDRUW JONES.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M DIAZ ON FIRST, J FRANCOEUR ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 0
ATLANTA 5 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: J FRANCO (.196, 0-FOR-1)</div>