GAME THREAD: NL: ST LOUIS (22-29) at HOUSTON (22-31)

NL: ST LOUIS (22-29) at HOUSTON (22-31)

<h3>Struggling Astros look to start June on high note</h3>



<div class="pre">St. Louis (22-29) at Houston (22-31) 8:05 pm EDT</div>

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Houston Astros can't seem to buy a break in Mayover the last few seasons. They have been able to turn it around in pastcampaigns and hope that pattern continues in 2007.

The Astros begin a three-game series with the division rival St.Louis Cardinals Friday at Minute Maid Park.

In 2005, Houston went 10-19 before eventually making it into theWorld Series and, one year later, it went 11-19 in May beforefinishing a respectable 82-80.

After breaking their 10-game skid on Thursday, the Astrosfinished 12-17 in the second month of this campaign.

Houston aims for its second straight win behind ace Roy Oswalt(6-4, 3.36 ERA), who hopes to star June successfully for theclub.

In his last start, he surrendered six runs and 10 hits insix innings of an 8-4 loss at Arizona in his last start onSunday.

The righthander is 8-5 with a 3.17 ERA regular-seasongames - 19 starts - against the Cardinals. He also has facedSt. Louis four times in the postseason.

Adam Wainwright (4-4, 5.59), who has allowed two earned runs orless in four of his last five starts, takes the mound for theCardinals. He yielded two runs and seven hits in seven inningsagainst the Nationals on Sunday but suffered a 7-2 loss as aresult of poor run support.

The righthander is 2-0 in his starts against the Astros thisseason, allowing three runs in 13 innings. He has faced Houstonsix times prior to this season as a reliever, owning a 2.53ERA.

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

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

ST LOUIS HOUSTON
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
David Eckstein SS .277 1 9 Craig Biggio 2B .240 3 17
Scott Spiezio LF .268 1 15 Hunter Pence CF .348 4 19
Albert Pujols 1B .296 9 28 Lance Berkman 1B .244 6 28
Jim Edmonds CF .245 5 18 Carlos Lee LF .317 10 48
Scott Rolen 3B .259 3 23 Luke Scott RF .234 4 26
Juan Encarnacion RF .222 0 6 Morgan Ensberg 3B .231 5 14
Gary Bennett C .250 0 4 Adam Everett SS .214 1 11
Adam Kennedy 2B .229 0 11 Brad Ausmus C .235 0 6
Adam Wainwright RHP .294 0 3 Roy Oswalt RHP .125 0 0
(4-4, 5.59) (6-4, 3.36)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
WARMUPS: STL - ADAM WAINWRIGHT (4-4, 5.59)
HOU - ROY OSWALT (6-4, 3.36)

UMPIRES: HP - GARY CEDERSTROM
1B - LANCE BARKSDALE
2B - ADRIAN JOHNSON
3B - JIM REYNOLDS

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
STARTING BATS: STL - ADAM WAINWRIGHT AND GARY BENNETT
HOU - ROY OSWALT AND BRAD AUSMUS

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: D ECKSTEIN (.277, 1 HR, 9 RBI)
S SPIEZIO (.268, 1 HR, 15 RBI)
A PUJOLS (.296, 9 HR, 28 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - ADAM WAINWRIGHT
HOU - ROY OSWALT

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C BIGGIO (.240, 3 HR, 17 RBI)
H PENCE (.348, 4 HR, 19 RBI)
L BERKMAN (.244, 6 HR, 28 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS (0) VS HOUSTON (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 .276
S Spiezio lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
J Edmonds cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
S Rolen 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
J Encarnacion rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222
G Bennett c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
A Kennedy 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
A Wainwright p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240
H Pence cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .348
L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
M Ensberg 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
A Everett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
R Oswalt p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 0 -- 0
HOUSTON - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
A Wainwright 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.59

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
R Oswalt 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.32

Pitches-strikes: R Oswalt 10-7. Ground balls-fly balls: R Oswalt 2-1. Batters
faced: R Oswalt 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Lance Barksdale. 2B--Adrian Johnson.
3B--Jim Reynolds.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
CONFIRMED STARTERS: STL - ADAM WAINWRIGHT
HOU - ROY OSWALT</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - ADAM WAINWRIGHT
HOU - ROY OSWALT

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: J EDMONDS (.245, 5 HR, 18 RBI)
S ROLEN (.259, 3 HR, 23 RBI)
J ENCARNACION (.222, 0 HR, 6 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS (0) VS HOUSTON (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 .276
S Spiezio lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
J Edmonds cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
S Rolen 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
J Encarnacion rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222
G Bennett c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
A Kennedy 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
A Wainwright p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239
H Pence cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .353
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .243
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .317
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .234
M Ensberg 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .229
A Everett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
R Oswalt p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125

Totals 4 0 1 0 2 2 4

BATTING: 2B - H Pence (10, A Wainwright). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - M Ensberg 2. Team LOB - 3.


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 0 -- 0
HOUSTON - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
A Wainwright 1 1 0 0 2 2 0 5.49

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
R Oswalt 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.32

Pitches-strikes: A Wainwright 24-12; R Oswalt 10-7. Ground balls-fly balls: A
Wainwright 0-1; R Oswalt 2-1. Batters faced: A Wainwright 6; R Oswalt 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Lance Barksdale. 2B--Adrian Johnson.
3B--Jim Reynolds.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - ADAM WAINWRIGHT
HOU - ROY OSWALT

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: A EVERETT (.214, 1 HR, 11 RBI)
B AUSMUS (.235, 0 HR, 6 RBI)
R OSWALT (.125, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS (0) VS HOUSTON (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 .276
S Spiezio lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
J Edmonds cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
S Rolen 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .218
G Bennett c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
A Kennedy 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
A Wainwright p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239
H Pence cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .353
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .243
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .317
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .234
M Ensberg 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .229
A Everett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
R Oswalt p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125

Totals 4 0 1 0 2 2 4

BATTING: 2B - H Pence (10, A Wainwright). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - M Ensberg 2. Team LOB - 3.


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 00 -- 0
HOUSTON - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
A Wainwright 1 1 0 0 2 2 0 5.49

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
R Oswalt 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.28

Pitches-strikes: A Wainwright 24-12; R Oswalt 25-18. Ground balls-fly balls:
A Wainwright 0-1; R Oswalt 3-2. Batters faced: A Wainwright 6; R Oswalt 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Lance Barksdale. 2B--Adrian Johnson.
3B--Jim Reynolds.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - ADAM WAINWRIGHT
HOU - ROY OSWALT

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: G BENNETT (.250, 0 HR, 4 RBI)
A KENNEDY (.229, 0 HR, 11 RBI)
A WAINWRIGHT (.294, 0 HR, 3 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

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

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
S Spiezio lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
J Edmonds cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
S Rolen 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .218
G Bennett c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
A Kennedy 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
A Wainwright p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239
H Pence cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .353
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .243
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .317
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .234
M Ensberg 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .229
A Everett ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .213
B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
R Oswalt p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .120

Totals 7 0 1 0 2 3 4

BATTING: 2B - H Pence (10, A Wainwright). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - M Ensberg 2. Team LOB - 3.


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 00 -- 0
HOUSTON - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
A Wainwright 2 1 0 0 2 3 0 5.40

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
R Oswalt 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.28

Pitches-strikes: A Wainwright 36-20; R Oswalt 25-18. Ground balls-fly balls:
A Wainwright 0-3; R Oswalt 3-2. Batters faced: A Wainwright 9; R Oswalt 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Lance Barksdale. 2B--Adrian Johnson.
3B--Jim Reynolds.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - ADAM WAINWRIGHT
HOU - ROY OSWALT

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C BIGGIO (.239, 0-FOR-1)
H PENCE (.353, 1-FOR-1)
L BERKMAN (.243, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

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

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280
S Spiezio lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .263
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
J Edmonds cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
S Rolen 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .218
G Bennett c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
A Kennedy 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .227
A Wainwright p 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .333

Totals 11 0 2 0 0 2 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - S Spiezio 1. Team LOB - 2.



HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239
H Pence cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .353
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .243
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .317
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .234
M Ensberg 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .229
A Everett ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .213
B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
R Oswalt p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .120

Totals 7 0 1 0 2 3 4

BATTING: 2B - H Pence (10, A Wainwright). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - M Ensberg 2. Team LOB - 3.


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 000 -- 0
HOUSTON - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
A Wainwright 2 1 0 0 2 3 0 5.40

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
R Oswalt 3 2 0 0 0 2 0 3.24

Pitches-strikes: A Wainwright 36-20; R Oswalt 40-28. Ground balls-fly balls:
A Wainwright 0-3; R Oswalt 4-3. Batters faced: A Wainwright 9; R Oswalt 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Lance Barksdale. 2B--Adrian Johnson.
3B--Jim Reynolds.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: S Spiezio at third base.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 0
HOUSTON 0 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C Biggio (.239, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: S Taguchi in left field.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 0
HOUSTON 0 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C Biggio (.239, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - ADAM WAINWRIGHT
HOU - ROY OSWALT

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A PUJOLS (.295, 0-FOR-1)
J EDMONDS (.243, 0-FOR-1)
S TAGUCHI (.247, 1 HR, 7 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

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

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280
S Spiezio lf-3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .263
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
J Edmonds cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
S Rolen 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
S Taguchi lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .218
G Bennett c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
A Kennedy 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .227
A Wainwright p 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .333

Totals 11 0 2 0 0 2 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - S Spiezio 1. Team LOB - 2.



HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
H Pence cf 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .350
L Berkman 1b 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .242
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .317
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .234
M Ensberg 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .229
A Everett ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .213
B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
R Oswalt p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .120

Totals 10 0 1 0 2 4 4

BATTING: 2B - H Pence (10, A Wainwright). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - M Ensberg 2. Team LOB - 3.


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 000 -- 0
HOUSTON - 000 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
A Wainwright 3 1 0 0 2 4 0 5.31

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
R Oswalt 3 2 0 0 0 2 0 3.24

Pitches-strikes: A Wainwright 46-28; R Oswalt 40-28. Ground balls-fly balls:
A Wainwright 1-4; R Oswalt 4-3. Batters faced: A Wainwright 12; R Oswalt 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Lance Barksdale. 2B--Adrian Johnson.
3B--Jim Reynolds.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL ST LOUIS AT HOUSTON
NOTE: ST LOUIS THIRD BASEMAN SCOTT ROLEN LEFT THE GAME IN
THE BOTTOM OF THE THIRD INNING DUE TO A STRAINED RIGHT HAMSTRING.</div>