NL: ST LOUIS (21-29) at COLORADO (25-28) <h3>Cardinals' middle of the order beginning to come around</h3> St Louis (21-29) at Colorado (25-28) 9:05 pm EDT DENVER (Ticker) -- The St. Louis Cardinals have been waiting fortheir big bats to wake up all season. Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds are all starting tohit as the Cardinals prepare to close their four-game seriesagainst the Colorado Rockies on Thursday at Coors Field. Pujols had two hits, including a homer, scored two runs anddrove in three in St. Louis' 8-4 win on Wednesday, bringing hisbatting average to .296. Since dipping to .239 on May 14,Pujols is hitting a robust .436 (24-for-55). Rolen and Edmonds also are in the midst of offensiveresurgences, with Rolen hitting .461 (12-for-26) over his lasteight games and Edmonds batting .341 (15-for-44) after droppingto .202 on May 11. The Rockies had their longest winning streak since September6-12, 1998 snapped at seven games Wednesday. The Cardinals will now turn to Brad Thompson (3-1, 4.72). Theconverted reliever will be making his fifth start in a row. Thompson picked up a win in his last outing, allowing three runsand 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings against the Washington Nationalson Saturday. The 25-year-old righthander has not been sharp inthe rotation, but he has been effective, winning two gamesdespite surrendering 29 hits in just 22 2/3 innings. Aaron Cook (4-1, 4.11 ERA), fresh off a complete-game win at SanFrancisco on Saturday, will take the mound for the Rockies. Therighthander yielded just one run and five hits against theGiants to earn his fourth win of the season. Cook failed to earn a win in the month of April, struggling outof the gate due mainly to an offense that provided him with justfive runs total in his first four starts. But as the offensehas started to click, so has the pitching. Colorado has scoredat least six runs in each of Cook's last six outings.
NL: ST LOUIS at COLORADO <div class="pre">ST LOUIS AT COLORADO -- LINEUPS ST LOUIS COLORADO AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Aaron Miles SS .287 0 7 Ryan Spilborghs CF .278 0 5 So Taguchi LF .256 1 7 Kaz Matsui 2B .313 0 8 Scott Spiezio 1B .269 1 15 Matt Holliday LF .347 10 42 Jim Edmonds CF .245 5 18 Todd Helton 1B .343 5 27 Scott Rolen 3B .252 3 22 Garrett Atkins 3B .223 3 20 Juan Encarnacion RF .220 0 3 Brad Hawpe RF .292 8 32 Gary Bennett C .208 0 2 Troy Tulowitzki SS .278 2 21 Adam Kennedy 2B .228 0 10 Chris Iannetta C .198 1 9 Brad Thompson RHP .000 0 0 Aaron Cook RHP .222 0 1 (3-1, 4.72) (4-1, 4.11)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at COLORADO <div class="pre">NL AT COLORADO WARMUPS: STL - BRAD THOMPSON (3-1, 4.72) COL - AARON COOK (4-1, 4.11) UMPIRES: HP - GARY DARLING 1B - JERRY MEALS 2B - LARRY PONCINO 3B - BRUCE DRECKMAN WEATHER: 70 Degrees, cloudy WIND: 14 mph, in from right</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at COLORADO <div class="pre">NL AT COLORADO STARTING BATS: STL - BRAD THOMPSON AND GARY BENNETT COL - AARON COOK AND CHRIS IANNETTA DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A MILES (.287, 0 HR, 7 RBI) S TAGUCHI (.256, 1 HR, 7 RBI) S SPIEZIO (.269, 1 HR, 15 RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at COLORADO <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ST LOUIS 0 0 0 0 COLORADO 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - BRAD THOMPSON COL - AARON COOK DUE UP FOR COLORADO: R SPILBORGHS (.278, 0 HR, 5 RBI) K MATSUI (.313, 0 HR, 8 RBI) M HOLLIDAY (.347, 10 HR, 42 RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at COLORADO <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (0) VS COLORADO (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Miles ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284 S Taguchi lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256 S Spiezio 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .266 J Edmonds cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245 S Rolen 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252 J Encarnacion rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .220 G Bennett c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208 A Kennedy 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228 B Thompson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 BATTING: GIDP - S Spiezio. Team LOB - 0. COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Spilborghs cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 K Matsui 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313 M Holliday lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .347 T Helton 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .343 G Atkins 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .223 B Hawpe rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 T Tulowitzki ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 C Iannetta c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .198 A Cook p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: DP: 1 (T Helton-T Tulowitzki-T Helton). ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 0 -- 0 COLORADO - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era B Thompson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.72 COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era A Cook 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.05 HBP - S Taguchi (by A Cook). Pitches-strikes: A Cook 5-4. Ground balls-fly balls: A Cook 3-0. Batters faced: A Cook 3. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Bruce Dreckman. Weather: 64 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 16 mph, in from right.</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at COLORADO <div class="pre">NL AT COLORADO CONFIRMED STARTERS: STL - BRAD THOMPSON COL - AARON COOK</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at COLORADO <div class="pre">NL AT COLORADO - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY MATT HOLLIDAY SCORED RYAN SPILBORGHS. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M HOLLIDAY ON FIRST, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 0 COLORADO 1 BOTTOM, 1ST DUE UP FOR COLORADO: T HELTON (.343, 5 HR, 27 RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at COLORADO <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ST LOUIS 0 0 0 0 COLORADO 1 1 2 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - BRAD THOMPSON COL - AARON COOK DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: J EDMONDS (.245, 5 HR, 18 RBI) S ROLEN (.252, 3 HR, 22 RBI) J ENCARNACION (.220, 0 HR, 3 RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at COLORADO <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (0) VS COLORADO (1) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Miles ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284 S Taguchi lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256 S Spiezio 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .266 J Edmonds cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245 S Rolen 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252 J Encarnacion rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .220 G Bennett c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208 A Kennedy 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228 B Thompson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 BATTING: GIDP - S Spiezio. Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Kennedy-A Miles-S Spiezio). COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Spilborghs cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .316 K Matsui 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308 M Holliday lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .350 T Helton 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .341 G Atkins 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .223 B Hawpe rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 T Tulowitzki ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 C Iannetta c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .198 A Cook p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222 Totals 4 1 2 1 0 0 1 BATTING: RBI - M Holliday (43). GIDP - T Helton. Team LOB - 0. BASERUNNING: SB - R Spilborghs (1, 2nd base off B Thompson/G Bennett). FIELDING: DP: 1 (T Helton-T Tulowitzki-T Helton). ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 0 -- 0 COLORADO - 1 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era B Thompson 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 4.83 COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era A Cook 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.05 HBP - S Taguchi (by A Cook). Pitches-strikes: B Thompson 15-9; A Cook 5-4. Ground balls-fly balls: B Thompson 3-0; A Cook 3-0. Batters faced: B Thompson 4; A Cook 3. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Bruce Dreckman. Weather: 64 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 16 mph, in from right.</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at COLORADO <div class="pre">NL AT COLORADO - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY ADAM KENNEDY SCORED JUAN ENCARNACION. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A KENNEDY ON FIRST, G BENNETT ON SECOND, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 1 COLORADO 1 TOP, 2ND DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: B THOMPSON (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at COLORADO <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ST LOUIS 0 1 1 2 0 COLORADO 1 1 2 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - BRAD THOMPSON COL - AARON COOK DUE UP FOR COLORADO: G ATKINS (.223, 3 HR, 20 RBI) B HAWPE (.292, 8 HR, 32 RBI) T TULOWITZKI (.278, 2 HR, 21 RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at COLORADO <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (1) VS COLORADO (1) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Miles ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284 S Taguchi lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256 S Spiezio 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .266 J Edmonds cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243 S Rolen 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .252 J Encarnacion rf 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .216 G Bennett c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .224 A Kennedy 2b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .234 B Thompson p 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000 Totals 7 1 2 1 1 0 4 BATTING: RBI - A Kennedy (11). 2-out RBI - A Kennedy. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Thompson 1. GIDP - S Spiezio. Team LOB - 2. FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Kennedy-A Miles-S Spiezio). COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Spilborghs cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .316 K Matsui 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308 M Holliday lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .350 T Helton 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .341 G Atkins 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .223 B Hawpe rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 T Tulowitzki ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 C Iannetta c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .198 A Cook p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222 Totals 4 1 2 1 0 0 1 BATTING: RBI - M Holliday (43). GIDP - T Helton. Team LOB - 0. BASERUNNING: SB - R Spilborghs (1, 2nd base off B Thompson/G Bennett). FIELDING: DP: 1 (T Helton-T Tulowitzki-T Helton). ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 01 -- 1 COLORADO - 1 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era B Thompson 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 4.83 COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era A Cook 2 2 1 1 1 0 0 4.12 HBP - S Taguchi (by A Cook). Pitches-strikes: B Thompson 15-9; A Cook 27-17. Ground balls-fly balls: B Thompson 3-0; A Cook 5-1. Batters faced: B Thompson 4; A Cook 9. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Bruce Dreckman. Weather: 64 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 16 mph, in from right.</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at COLORADO <div class="pre">NL AT COLORADO - SCORING UPDATE GROUND OUT BY TROY TULOWITZKI SCORED GARRETT ATKINS. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 1 COLORADO 2 BOTTOM, 2ND DUE UP FOR COLORADO: C IANNETTA (.198, 1 HR, 9 RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at COLORADO <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ST LOUIS 0 1 1 2 0 COLORADO 1 1 2 3 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - BRAD THOMPSON COL - AARON COOK DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A MILES (.284, 0-FOR-1) S TAGUCHI (.256, 0-FOR-0, HBP) S SPIEZIO (.266, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at COLORADO <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (1) VS COLORADO (2) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Miles ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284 S Taguchi lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256 S Spiezio 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .266 J Edmonds cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243 S Rolen 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .252 J Encarnacion rf 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .216 G Bennett c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .224 A Kennedy 2b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .234 B Thompson p 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000 Totals 7 1 2 1 1 0 4 BATTING: RBI - A Kennedy (11). 2-out RBI - A Kennedy. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Thompson 1. GIDP - S Spiezio. Team LOB - 2. FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Kennedy-A Miles-S Spiezio). COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Spilborghs cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .316 K Matsui 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308 M Holliday lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .350 T Helton 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .341 G Atkins 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .227 B Hawpe rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290 T Tulowitzki ss 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .277 C Iannetta c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .195 A Cook p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222 Totals 8 2 3 2 0 0 1 BATTING: 2B - G Atkins (13, B Thompson). RBI - M Holliday (43), T Tulowitzki (22). GIDP - T Helton. Team LOB - 0. BASERUNNING: SB - R Spilborghs (1, 2nd base off B Thompson/G Bennett). FIELDING: DP: 1 (T Helton-T Tulowitzki-T Helton). ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 01 -- 1 COLORADO - 11 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era B Thompson 2 3 2 2 0 0 0 4.93 COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era A Cook 2 2 1 1 1 0 0 4.12 HBP - S Taguchi (by A Cook). Pitches-strikes: B Thompson 24-14; A Cook 27-17. Ground balls-fly balls: B Thompson 5-1; A Cook 5-1. Batters faced: B Thompson 8; A Cook 9. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Bruce Dreckman. Weather: 64 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 16 mph, in from right.</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at COLORADO <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ST LOUIS 0 1 0 1 2 0 COLORADO 1 1 2 3 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - BRAD THOMPSON COL - AARON COOK DUE UP FOR COLORADO: A COOK (.222, 0 HR, 1 RBI) R SPILBORGHS (.316, 1-FOR-1) K MATSUI (.308, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at COLORADO <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (1) VS COLORADO (2) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Miles ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 S Taguchi lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253 S Spiezio 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .263 J Edmonds cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243 S Rolen 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .252 J Encarnacion rf 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .216 G Bennett c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .224 A Kennedy 2b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .234 B Thompson p 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000 Totals 10 1 2 1 1 0 4 BATTING: RBI - A Kennedy (11). 2-out RBI - A Kennedy. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Thompson 1. GIDP - S Spiezio. Team LOB - 2. FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Kennedy-A Miles-S Spiezio). COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Spilborghs cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .316 K Matsui 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308 M Holliday lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .350 T Helton 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .341 G Atkins 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .227 B Hawpe rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290 T Tulowitzki ss 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .277 C Iannetta c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .195 A Cook p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222 Totals 8 2 3 2 0 0 1 BATTING: 2B - G Atkins (13, B Thompson). RBI - M Holliday (43), T Tulowitzki (22). GIDP - T Helton. Team LOB - 0. BASERUNNING: SB - R Spilborghs (1, 2nd base off B Thompson/G Bennett). FIELDING: DP: 1 (T Helton-T Tulowitzki-T Helton). ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 010 -- 1 COLORADO - 11 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era B Thompson 2 3 2 2 0 0 0 4.93 COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era A Cook 3 2 1 1 1 0 0 4.06 HBP - S Taguchi (by A Cook). Pitches-strikes: B Thompson 24-14; A Cook 35-24. Ground balls-fly balls: B Thompson 5-1; A Cook 8-1. Batters faced: B Thompson 8; A Cook 12. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Bruce Dreckman. Weather: 64 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 16 mph, in from right.</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at COLORADO <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ST LOUIS 0 1 0 1 2 0 COLORADO 1 1 0 2 5 0 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - BRAD THOMPSON COL - AARON COOK DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: J EDMONDS (.243, 0-FOR-1) S ROLEN (.252, 0-FOR-0, BB) J ENCARNACION (.216, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at COLORADO <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (1) VS COLORADO (2) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Miles ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 S Taguchi lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253 S Spiezio 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .263 J Edmonds cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243 S Rolen 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .252 J Encarnacion rf 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .216 G Bennett c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .224 A Kennedy 2b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .234 B Thompson p 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000 Totals 10 1 2 1 1 0 4 BATTING: RBI - A Kennedy (11). 2-out RBI - A Kennedy. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Thompson 1. GIDP - S Spiezio. Team LOB - 2. FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Kennedy-A Miles-S Spiezio). COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Spilborghs cf 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 .350 K Matsui 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .303 M Holliday lf 2 0 1 1 0 0 2 .349 T Helton 1b 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 .341 G Atkins 3b 2 1 1 0 0 0 3 .226 B Hawpe rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290 T Tulowitzki ss 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .277 C Iannetta c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .195 A Cook p 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .263 Totals 13 2 5 2 1 1 8 BATTING: 2B - G Atkins (13, B Thompson); A Cook (3, B Thompson). RBI - M Holliday (43), T Tulowitzki (22). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Atkins 2. GIDP - T Helton. Team LOB - 3. BASERUNNING: SB - R Spilborghs (1, 2nd base off B Thompson/G Bennett). FIELDING: DP: 1 (T Helton-T Tulowitzki-T Helton). ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 010 -- 1 COLORADO - 110 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era B Thompson 3 5 2 2 1 1 0 4.81 COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era A Cook 3 2 1 1 1 0 0 4.06 HBP - S Taguchi (by A Cook). Pitches-strikes: B Thompson 43-24; A Cook 35-24. Ground balls-fly balls: B Thompson 6-2; A Cook 8-1. Batters faced: B Thompson 14; A Cook 12. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Bruce Dreckman. Weather: 64 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 16 mph, in from right.</div>
