NL: ST LOUIS (23-29) at HOUSTON (22-32) <h3>Astros turn to Sampson to end losing ways</h3> St. Louis (23-29) at Houston (22-32) 3:55 pm EDT HOUSTON (Ticker) -- These are tough times for the Houston Astros.After showing signs of life on Thursday with 10 runs, theywere back to their old tricks one day later. The Astros continue their three-game weekend series against theSt. Louis Cardinals on Saturday at Minute Maid Park. Houston has lost 11 of 12 games, scoring two runs or less inseven of those contests. The Astros have been outscored 84-31in their last 12 games. Houston's Chris Sampson (4-5, 3.44 ERA)hopes a new month brings about the run support he received inApril (24 in four starts) and not in May (five runs in fivestarts). In Saturday's 5-4 loss to Arizona, he yielded threeruns and four hits over six innings. The righthander was pulled after 4 2/3 innings in his onlycareer start - on May 6 - against the Cardinals, yielding threeruns and five hits. Until recently, the St. Louis offense was in the same boat asHouston's, even though they still own the league's lowestscoring offense. However, things may be improving as they havecrossed the plate 23 times during a four-game winning streak. St. Louis starter and Houston native Kip Wells (2-9, 6.20 ERA),who leads the majors in losses, looks to recapture the magic hehad in his first start against the Astros this season. On April8, he held Houston to a single hit over seven scoreless framesto get his first win of the season. The righthander allowed five runs and a season-high 11 hits over6 1/3 innings in his latest start - a 6-2 loss at Colorado - onMonday, the latest defeat in a stretch that has seen Wells dropeight of his last nine outings. He is 4-7 with a 5.11 ERA in15 career starts against the Astros.
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ST LOUIS AT HOUSTON -- LINEUPS ST LOUIS HOUSTON AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Adam Kennedy 2B .224 0 11 Craig Biggio 2B .236 3 17 Scott Spiezio 3B .275 1 17 Hunter Pence CF .353 4 19 Albert Pujols 1B .295 9 28 Lance Berkman 1B .245 6 28 Jim Edmonds CF .240 5 18 Carlos Lee LF .317 10 49 Juan Encarnacion RF .224 1 7 Mark Loretta 3B .346 0 11 Ryan Ludwick LF .224 0 6 Luke Scott RF .231 4 26 Gary Bennett C .263 1 7 Eric Munson C .000 0 0 Aaron Miles SS .269 0 7 Adam Everett SS .209 1 11 Kip Wells RHP .300 1 2 Chris Sampson RHP .188 0 0 (2-9, 6.20) (4-5, 3.44)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON WARMUPS: STL - KIP WELLS (2-9, 6.20) HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON (4-5, 3.44) UMPIRES: HP - LANCE BARKSDALE 1B - ADRIAN JOHNSON 2B - JIM REYNOLDS 3B - GARY CEDERSTROM WEATHER: INDOORS</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON STARTING BATS: STL - KIP WELLS AND GARY BENNETT HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON AND ERIC MUNSON DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A KENNEDY (.224, 0 HR, 11 RBI) S SPIEZIO (.275, 1 HR, 17 RBI) A PUJOLS (.295, 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 - KIP WELLS HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C BIGGIO (.236, 3 HR, 17 RBI) H PENCE (.353, 4 HR, 19 RBI) L BERKMAN (.245, 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 A Kennedy 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222 S Spiezio 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272 A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 J Edmonds cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240 J Encarnacion rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224 R Ludwick lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224 G Bennett c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 A Miles ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 K Wells p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300 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 .236 H Pence cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .353 L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245 C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317 M Loretta 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .346 L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 A Everett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209 C Sampson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .188 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 K Wells 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.20 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era C Sampson 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.37 Pitches-strikes: C Sampson 10-4. Ground balls-fly balls: C Sampson 1-2. Batters faced: C Sampson 3. UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Adrian Johnson. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON CONFIRMED STARTERS: STL - KIP WELLS HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE SACRIFICE FLY BY CARLOS LEE SCORED CRAIG BIGGIO. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, L BERKMAN ON FIRST, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 0 HOUSTON 1 BOTTOM, 1ST DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M LORETTA (.346, 0 HR, 11 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 1 1 2 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - KIP WELLS HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: J EDMONDS (.240, 5 HR, 18 RBI) J ENCARNACION (.224, 1 HR, 7 RBI) R LUDWICK (.224, 0 HR, 6 RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (0) VS HOUSTON (1) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Kennedy 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222 S Spiezio 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272 A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 J Edmonds cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240 J Encarnacion rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224 R Ludwick lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224 G Bennett c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 A Miles ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 K Wells p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300 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 1 1 0 0 0 0 .240 H Pence cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .358 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .243 C Lee lf 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 .317 M Loretta 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .343 L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 A Everett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209 C Sampson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .188 Totals 4 1 2 1 0 0 3 BATTING: SF - C Lee. RBI - C Lee (50). Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 0 -- 0 HOUSTON - 1 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era K Wells 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 6.24 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era C Sampson 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.37 Pitches-strikes: K Wells 15-10; C Sampson 10-4. Ground balls-fly balls: K Wells 1-2; C Sampson 1-2. Batters faced: K Wells 5; C Sampson 3. UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Adrian Johnson. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE SOLO HOME RUN BY JIM EDMONDS (6) TO RIGHT WITH 0 OUT IN THE 2ND OFF CHRIS SAMPSON. CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 1, HOUSTON 1 DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: J ENCARNACION (.224, 1 HR, 7 RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE SACRIFICE FLY BY AARON MILES SCORED JUAN ENCARNACION. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, R LUDWICK ON THIRD, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 2 HOUSTON 1 TOP, 2ND DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: K WELLS (.300, 1 HR, 2 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 2 2 2 0 HOUSTON 1 1 2 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - KIP WELLS HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: L SCOTT (.231, 4 HR, 26 RBI) E MUNSON (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI) A EVERETT (.209, 1 HR, 11 RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (2) VS HOUSTON (1) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Kennedy 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222 S Spiezio 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272 A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 J Edmonds cf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .245 J Encarnacion rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .224 R Ludwick lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .240 G Bennett c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .259 A Miles ss 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .269 K Wells p 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286 Totals 7 2 2 2 1 0 3 BATTING: 2B - R Ludwick (3, C Sampson). HR - J Edmonds (6, 2nd inning off C Sampson 0 on, 0 Out). SF - A Miles. RBI - J Edmonds (19), A Miles (8). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - K Wells 1. Team LOB - 1. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Biggio 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .240 H Pence cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .358 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .243 C Lee lf 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 .317 M Loretta 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .343 L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 A Everett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209 C Sampson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .188 Totals 4 1 2 1 0 0 3 BATTING: SF - C Lee. RBI - C Lee (50). Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 02 -- 2 HOUSTON - 1 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era K Wells 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 6.24 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era C Sampson 2 2 2 2 1 0 1 3.63 Pitches-strikes: K Wells 15-10; C Sampson 25-13. Ground balls-fly balls: K Wells 1-2; C Sampson 3-3. Batters faced: K Wells 5; C Sampson 9. UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Adrian Johnson. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE SOLO HOME RUN BY ADAM EVERETT (2) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN THE 2ND OFF KIP WELLS. CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 2, HOUSTON 2 DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C SAMPSON (.188, 0 HR, 0 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 2 2 2 0 HOUSTON 1 1 2 3 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - KIP WELLS HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A KENNEDY (.222, 0-FOR-1) S SPIEZIO (.272, 0-FOR-1) A PUJOLS (.294, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (2) VS HOUSTON (2) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Kennedy 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222 S Spiezio 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272 A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 J Edmonds cf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .245 J Encarnacion rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .224 R Ludwick lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .240 G Bennett c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .259 A Miles ss 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .269 K Wells p 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286 Totals 7 2 2 2 1 0 3 BATTING: 2B - R Ludwick (3, C Sampson). HR - J Edmonds (6, 2nd inning off C Sampson 0 on, 0 Out). SF - A Miles. RBI - J Edmonds (19), A Miles (8). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - K Wells 1. Team LOB - 1. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Biggio 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .240 H Pence cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .358 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .243 C Lee lf 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 .317 M Loretta 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .343 L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229 E Munson c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 A Everett ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .214 C Sampson p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .176 Totals 8 2 3 2 0 0 3 BATTING: HR - A Everett (2, 2nd inning off K Wells 0 on, 2 Out). SF - C Lee. RBI - C Lee (50), A Everett (12). 2-out RBI - A Everett. Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 02 -- 2 HOUSTON - 11 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era K Wells 2 3 2 2 0 0 1 6.28 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era C Sampson 2 2 2 2 1 0 1 3.63 Pitches-strikes: K Wells 27-18; C Sampson 25-13. Ground balls-fly balls: K Wells 1-5; C Sampson 3-3. Batters faced: K Wells 9; C Sampson 9. UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Adrian Johnson. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. 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 2 0 2 3 0 HOUSTON 1 1 2 3 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - KIP WELLS HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C BIGGIO (.240, 1-FOR-1) H PENCE (.358, 1-FOR-1) L BERKMAN (.243, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (2) VS HOUSTON (2) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Kennedy 2b 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .228 S Spiezio 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 A Pujols 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .292 J Edmonds cf 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 .243 J Encarnacion rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .224 R Ludwick lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .240 G Bennett c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .259 A Miles ss 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .269 K Wells p 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286 Totals 11 2 3 2 1 0 5 BATTING: 2B - R Ludwick (3, C Sampson). HR - J Edmonds (6, 2nd inning off C Sampson 0 on, 0 Out). SF - A Miles. RBI - J Edmonds (19), A Miles (8). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Edmonds 1, K Wells 1. Team LOB - 2. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Biggio 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .240 H Pence cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .358 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .243 C Lee lf 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 .317 M Loretta 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .343 L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229 E Munson c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 A Everett ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .214 C Sampson p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .176 Totals 8 2 3 2 0 0 3 BATTING: HR - A Everett (2, 2nd inning off K Wells 0 on, 2 Out). SF - C Lee. RBI - C Lee (50), A Everett (12). 2-out RBI - A Everett. Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 020 -- 2 HOUSTON - 11 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era K Wells 2 3 2 2 0 0 1 6.28 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era C Sampson 3 3 2 2 1 0 1 3.57 Pitches-strikes: K Wells 27-18; C Sampson 36-18. Ground balls-fly balls: K Wells 1-5; C Sampson 6-3. Batters faced: K Wells 9; C Sampson 13. UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Adrian Johnson. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. 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 2 0 2 3 0 HOUSTON 1 1 0 2 3 0 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - KIP WELLS HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: J ENCARNACION (.224, 0-FOR-0, BB) R LUDWICK (.240, 1-FOR-1) G BENNETT (.259, 0-FOR-1)</div>
