NL: ST LOUIS (23-30) at HOUSTON (23-32) <h2>Both Astros and Cardinals in need of a spark</h2> St Louis (23-30) at Houston (23-32), 2:05 pm EDT HOUSTON (Ticker) -- A pair of teams looking to rebound fromdisappointing starts meet Sunday when the St. Louis Cardinalsvisit the Houston Astros in the finale of a three-game series. <div class="pre">St. Louis, the defending World Series champions, has not been</div>above .500 this season since starting 6-5. Houston meanwhile istrying to forget about their 10-game losing skid which came toan end on Thursday. Cardinals starter Braden Looper (6-4, 3.65 ERA) has pitched wellthis season, but when he has pitched bad, he has pitched verybad. That was the case in his last start on Tuesday when heallowed six run in 5 2/3 innings during the team's 8-3 loss tothe Colorado Rockies. Looper won his only start against Houstonon May 6, holding the team to one run in six innings as theCardinals prevailed, 3-1. Jason Jennings (0-1, 2.12) makes his second start for the Astrossince returning from the disabled list with elbow tendinitis.He pitched five scoreless innings in the Astros' 2-1 loss to theCincinnati Reds on Tuesday and did not factor in the decision. Carlos Lee hit a two-run homer and Adam Everett and Luke Scotteach added solo shots in Houston's 8-3 win here on Saturday.Hunter Pence had two hits and is hitting .421 (16-of-38) in hislast 10 games with eight multi-hit contests. Lance Berkman has 782 RBI and needs one more to pass Bob Watsonfor fourth place on Houston's all-time list. Since May 27, Cardinals outfielder Jim Edmonds is hitting .323(10-for-31) with five home runs and eight RBI.
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 .280 1 9 Mark Loretta 2B .333 0 11 Scott Spiezio 3B .274 1 17 Mike Lamb 1B .264 2 5 Albert Pujols 1B .289 9 28 Hunter Pence CF .358 4 21 Jim Edmonds CF .240 6 19 Carlos Lee LF .321 11 52 Juan Encarnacion RF .230 1 7 Luke Scott RF .231 5 27 Ryan Ludwick LF .245 0 6 Morgan Ensberg 3B .226 5 14 Gary Bennett C .254 1 8 Eric Munson C .333 0 0 Brendan Ryan 2B .000 0 0 Adam Everett SS .222 2 12 Braden Looper RHP .167 0 2 Jason Jennings RHP .000 0 0 (6-4, 3.64) (0-1, 2.12)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON WARMUPS: STL - BRADEN LOOPER (6-4, 3.64) HOU - JASON JENNINGS (0-1, 2.12) UMPIRES: HP - ADRIAN JOHNSON 1B - JIM REYNOLDS 2B - GARY CEDERSTROM 3B - LANCE BARKSDALE WEATHER: INDOORS</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON STARTING BATS: STL - BRADEN LOOPER AND GARY BENNETT HOU - JASON JENNINGS AND ERIC MUNSON DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: D ECKSTEIN (.280, 1 HR, 9 RBI) S SPIEZIO (.274, 1 HR, 17 RBI) A PUJOLS (.289, 9 HR, 28 RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE SOLO HOME RUN BY DAVID ECKSTEIN (2) TO LEFT WITH 0 OUT IN THE 1ST OFF JASON JENNINGS. CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 1, HOUSTON 0 DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: S SPIEZIO (.274, 1 HR, 17 RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL ST LOUIS AT HOUSTON NOTE: THE HOME RUN BY ST LOUIS SHORTSTOP DAVID ECKSTEIN LED OFF THE GAME.</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ST LOUIS 1 1 1 0 HOUSTON 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - BRADEN LOOPER HOU - JASON JENNINGS DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M LORETTA (.333, 0 HR, 11 RBI) M LAMB (.264, 2 HR, 5 RBI) H PENCE (.358, 4 HR, 21 RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (1) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .285 S Spiezio 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288 J Edmonds cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239 J Encarnacion rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230 R Ludwick lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245 G Bennett c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254 B Ryan 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 B Looper p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167 Totals 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 BATTING: HR - D Eckstein (2, 1st inning off J Jennings 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - D Eckstein (10). Team LOB - 0. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg M Loretta 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 M Lamb 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264 H Pence cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .358 C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321 L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 M Ensberg 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226 E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 A Everett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222 J Jennings p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 1 -- 1 HOUSTON - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era B Looper 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.64 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Jennings 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 2.50 Pitches-strikes: J Jennings 12-8. Ground balls-fly balls: J Jennings 1-2. Batters faced: J Jennings 4. UMPIRES: HP--Adrian Johnson. 1B--Jim Reynolds. 2B--Gary Cederstrom. 3B--Lance Barksdale. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON CONFIRMED STARTERS: STL - BRADEN LOOPER HOU - JASON JENNINGS</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ST LOUIS 1 1 1 0 HOUSTON 0 0 1 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - BRADEN LOOPER HOU - JASON JENNINGS DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: J ENCARNACION (.230, 1 HR, 7 RBI) R LUDWICK (.245, 0 HR, 6 RBI) G BENNETT (.254, 1 HR, 8 RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (1) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .285 S Spiezio 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288 J Edmonds cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239 J Encarnacion rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230 R Ludwick lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245 G Bennett c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254 B Ryan 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 B Looper p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167 Totals 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 BATTING: HR - D Eckstein (2, 1st inning off J Jennings 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - D Eckstein (10). Team LOB - 0. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg M Loretta 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .330 M Lamb 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261 H Pence cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .363 C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .319 L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 M Ensberg 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226 E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 A Everett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222 J Jennings p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 1 -- 1 HOUSTON - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era B Looper 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.59 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Jennings 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 2.50 Pitches-strikes: B Looper 18-10; J Jennings 12-8. Ground balls-fly balls: B Looper 2-1; J Jennings 1-2. Batters faced: B Looper 4; J Jennings 4. UMPIRES: HP--Adrian Johnson. 1B--Jim Reynolds. 2B--Gary Cederstrom. 3B--Lance Barksdale. 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 1 0 1 1 0 HOUSTON 0 0 1 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - BRADEN LOOPER HOU - JASON JENNINGS DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: L SCOTT (.231, 5 HR, 27 RBI) M ENSBERG (.226, 5 HR, 14 RBI) E MUNSON (.333, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (1) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .285 S Spiezio 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288 J Edmonds cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239 J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226 R Ludwick lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241 G Bennett c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .250 B Ryan 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 B Looper p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167 Totals 7 1 1 1 0 1 0 BATTING: HR - D Eckstein (2, 1st inning off J Jennings 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - D Eckstein (10). Team LOB - 0. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg M Loretta 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .330 M Lamb 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261 H Pence cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .363 C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .319 L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 M Ensberg 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226 E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 A Everett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222 J Jennings p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 10 -- 1 HOUSTON - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era B Looper 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.59 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Jennings 2 1 1 1 0 1 1 2.37 Pitches-strikes: B Looper 18-10; J Jennings 24-15. Ground balls-fly balls: B Looper 2-1; J Jennings 2-3. Batters faced: B Looper 4; J Jennings 7. UMPIRES: HP--Adrian Johnson. 1B--Jim Reynolds. 2B--Gary Cederstrom. 3B--Lance Barksdale. 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 1 0 1 1 0 HOUSTON 0 0 0 1 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - BRADEN LOOPER HOU - JASON JENNINGS DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: B RYAN (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI) B LOOPER (.167, 0 HR, 2 RBI) D ECKSTEIN (.285, 1-FOR-1, HR, RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (1) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .285 S Spiezio 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288 J Edmonds cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239 J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226 R Ludwick lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241 G Bennett c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .250 B Ryan 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 B Looper p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167 Totals 7 1 1 1 0 1 0 BATTING: HR - D Eckstein (2, 1st inning off J Jennings 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - D Eckstein (10). Team LOB - 0. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg M Loretta 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .330 M Lamb 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261 H Pence cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .363 C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .319 L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .230 M Ensberg 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224 E Munson c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 A Everett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222 J Jennings p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 7 0 1 0 0 1 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 10 -- 1 HOUSTON - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era B Looper 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.54 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Jennings 2 1 1 1 0 1 1 2.37 Pitches-strikes: B Looper 31-18; J Jennings 24-15. Ground balls-fly balls: B Looper 3-2; J Jennings 2-3. Batters faced: B Looper 7; J Jennings 7. UMPIRES: HP--Adrian Johnson. 1B--Jim Reynolds. 2B--Gary Cederstrom. 3B--Lance Barksdale. 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 1 0 0 1 1 0 HOUSTON 0 0 0 1 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - BRADEN LOOPER HOU - JASON JENNINGS DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: A EVERETT (.222, 2 HR, 12 RBI) J JENNINGS (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI) M LORETTA (.330, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (1) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 .283 S Spiezio 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288 J Edmonds cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239 J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226 R Ludwick lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241 G Bennett c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .250 B Ryan 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 B Looper p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .158 Totals 10 1 1 1 0 1 0 BATTING: HR - D Eckstein (2, 1st inning off J Jennings 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - D Eckstein (10). Team LOB - 0. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg M Loretta 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .330 M Lamb 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261 H Pence cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .363 C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .319 L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .230 M Ensberg 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224 E Munson c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 A Everett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222 J Jennings p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 7 0 1 0 0 1 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 100 -- 1 HOUSTON - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era B Looper 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.54 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Jennings 3 1 1 1 0 1 1 2.25 Pitches-strikes: B Looper 31-18; J Jennings 31-20. Ground balls-fly balls: B Looper 3-2; J Jennings 4-4. Batters faced: B Looper 7; J Jennings 10. UMPIRES: HP--Adrian Johnson. 1B--Jim Reynolds. 2B--Gary Cederstrom. 3B--Lance Barksdale. 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 1 0 0 1 1 0 HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 1 0 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - BRADEN LOOPER HOU - JASON JENNINGS DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: S SPIEZIO (.271, 0-FOR-1) A PUJOLS (.288, 0-FOR-1) J EDMONDS (.239, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (1) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 .283 S Spiezio 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288 J Edmonds cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239 J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226 R Ludwick lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241 G Bennett c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .250 B Ryan 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 B Looper p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .158 Totals 10 1 1 1 0 1 0 BATTING: HR - D Eckstein (2, 1st inning off J Jennings 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - D Eckstein (10). Team LOB - 0. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg M Loretta 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .327 M Lamb 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261 H Pence cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .363 C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .319 L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .230 M Ensberg 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224 E Munson c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 A Everett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .220 J Jennings p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 10 0 1 0 0 1 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 100 -- 1 HOUSTON - 000 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era B Looper 3 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.49 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Jennings 3 1 1 1 0 1 1 2.25 Pitches-strikes: B Looper 42-25; J Jennings 31-20. Ground balls-fly balls: B Looper 5-3; J Jennings 4-4. Batters faced: B Looper 10; J Jennings 10. UMPIRES: HP--Adrian Johnson. 1B--Jim Reynolds. 2B--Gary Cederstrom. 3B--Lance Barksdale. 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 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 1 0 (BOT 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - BRADEN LOOPER HOU - JASON JENNINGS DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M LAMB (.261, 0-FOR-1) H PENCE (.363, 1-FOR-1) C LEE (.319, 0-FOR-1)</div>
