GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: LA DODGERS (60-55) at ST LOUIS (53-60)

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    NL: LA DODGERS at ST LOUIS

    <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - MID INNING UPDATE
    PLAY: S Taguchi in left field.
    SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
    CURRENT SCORE: LA DODGERS 1
    ST LOUIS 6 TOP, 9TH

    DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: L Gonzalez (.277, 1-FOR-3, RBI)</div>
     
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    NL: LA DODGERS at ST LOUIS

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

    BATTERIES: LOS - DEREK LOWE, ROBERTO HERNANDEZ (7TH), RUDY SEANEZ (8TH) AND
    RUSSELL MARTIN

    STL - BRADEN LOOPER, TYLER JOHNSON (7TH), RUSS SPRINGER
    (7TH), RYAN FRANKLIN (8TH), BRAD THOMPSON (9TH) AND YADIER
    MOLINA

    HOME RUNS: LOS - NONE

    STL - RICK ANKIEL (2) OFF DEREK LOWE IN THE 1ST, 1 ON
    RICK ANKIEL (3) OFF ROBERTO HERNANDEZ IN THE 7TH, 0 ON</div>
     
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    NL: LA DODGERS at ST LOUIS

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

    BATTERIES: LOS - DEREK LOWE, ROBERTO HERNANDEZ (7TH), RUDY SEANEZ (8TH) AND
    RUSSELL MARTIN

    STL - BRADEN LOOPER, TYLER JOHNSON (7TH), RUSS SPRINGER
    (7TH), RYAN FRANKLIN (8TH), BRAD THOMPSON (9TH) AND YADIER
    MOLINA


    WP - BRADEN LOOPER (10-9)
    LP - DEREK LOWE (8-11)
    SAVE - NONE

    HOME RUNS: LOS - NONE

    STL - RICK ANKIEL (2) OFF DEREK LOWE IN THE 1ST, 1 ON
    RICK ANKIEL (3) OFF ROBERTO HERNANDEZ IN THE 7TH, 0 ON


    TIME: 2:27 ATT: 44,260

    PROBABLES: LOS - MARK HENDRICKSON (4-6, 4.63)
    STL - ANTHONY REYES (1-11, 5.66)</div>
     
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    NL: LA DODGERS at ST LOUIS

    <div class="pre">LA DODGERS (1) VS ST LOUIS (6) - FINAL

    LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
    R Furcal ss 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .277
    R Martin c 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 .295
    J Loney 1b 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 .322
    L Gonzalez lf 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 .276
    N Garciaparra 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .281
    A Ethier rf 4 0 2 0 0 1 0 .299
    J Pierre cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .277
    a-M Kemp ph-cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .315
    R Martinez 2b 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .176
    D Lowe p 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .146
    b-M Sweeney ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250
    R Hernandez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
    R Seanez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

    Totals 32 1 5 1 1 6 10

    a-struck out swinging for J Pierre in the 7th; b-flied out to right for D Lowe
    in the 7th.

    BATTING: 2B - A Ethier 2 (23, T Johnson, B Looper); L Gonzalez (20, B Looper).
    RBI - L Gonzalez (53). 2-out RBI - L Gonzalez. Runners left in scoring
    position, 2 out - N Garciaparra 1, M Sweeney 1, D Lowe 2. Team LOB - 5.

    FIELDING: E - R Furcal 2 (17, ground ball 2). Outfield assists - A Ethier (A
    Pujols at 3rd base). DP: 1 (R Furcal-J Loney).


    ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
    A Miles ss 4 2 2 0 0 0 1 .286
    R Ankiel rf 4 3 3 3 0 0 0 .417
    A Pujols 1b 3 0 0 1 1 0 0 .311
    J Edmonds cf 4 0 2 2 0 0 2 .244
    C Duncan lf 4 0 0 0 0 3 2 .277
    B Thompson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .158
    S Rolen 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .261
    Y Molina c 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .268
    B Looper p 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 .194
    a-R Ludwick ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
    T Johnson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
    R Springer p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
    R Franklin p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
    S Taguchi lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
    A Kennedy 2b 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 .219

    Totals 33 6 9 6 1 6 7

    a-grounded to third for B Looper in the 6th.

    BATTING: 2B - J Edmonds (10, D Lowe). HR - R Ankiel 2 (3, 1st inning off D Lowe
    1 on, 0 Out, 7th inning off R Hernandez 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - R Ankiel 3 (6), A
    Pujols (75), J Edmonds 2 (29). 2-out RBI - R Ankiel. Runners left in scoring
    position, 2 out - A Miles 1, C Duncan 1. GIDP - Y Molina. Team LOB - 4.

    BASERUNNING: SB - A Kennedy (6, 2nd base off D Lowe/R Martin).


    ----------------------------------------------------
    LA DODGERS - 000 001 000 -- 1
    ST LOUIS - 203 000 10x -- 6
    ----------------------------------------------------

    LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
    D Lowe (L, 8-11) 6 7 5 3 0 5 1 3.61
    R Hernandez 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 4.15
    R Seanez 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.93

    ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
    B Looper (W, 10-9) 6 4 1 1 1 3 0 5.08
    T Johnson 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.10
    R Springer 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.89
    R Franklin 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.83
    B Thompson 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.16

    T Johnson pitched to 1 batter in the 7th.

    Pitches-strikes: D Lowe 97-68; R Hernandez 15-6; R Seanez 12-8; B Looper
    85-53; T Johnson 4-2; R Springer 12-6; R Franklin 9-7; B Thompson 12-9. Ground
    balls-fly balls: D Lowe 12-1; R Hernandez 1-2; R Seanez 2-0; B Looper 3-12; T
    Johnson 0-0; R Springer 1-1; R Franklin 0-2; B Thompson 1-1. Batters faced: D
    Lowe 26; R Hernandez 5; R Seanez 3; B Looper 23; T Johnson 1; R Springer 3; R
    Franklin 3; B Thompson 3.

    UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Mike Everitt. 3B--Gerry
    Davis.

    T--2:27. Att--44,260.
    Weather: 95 degrees, sunny. Wind: 1 mph, out to
    right.</div>
     
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    NL: LA DODGERS at ST LOUIS

    <div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
    NL
    LA DODGERS 1
    ST LOUIS 6 FINAL</div>
     
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    NL: LA DODGERS at ST LOUIS

    <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    LA DODGERS (1) AT ST LOUIS (6) - HOW THEY SCORED
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    ST LOUIS 1ST: A Miles singled to center. R Ankiel homered to right,
    A Miles scored. A Pujols grounded out to third. J Edmonds grounded out
    to shortstop. C Duncan grounded out to first. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
    LA DODGERS 0, ST LOUIS 2.

    ST LOUIS 3RD: A Kennedy safe at first on error by shortstop R Furcal.
    A Miles reached on bunt single to third, A Kennedy to second. R Ankiel
    singled to right, A Kennedy to third, A Miles to second. A Pujols grounded
    into fielder's choice to shortstop, A Kennedy scored, A Miles to third,
    R Ankiel safe at second on error by shortstop R Furcal. J Edmonds singled
    to right, A Miles and R Ankiel scored, A Pujols thrown out at third.
    C Duncan struck out swinging. S Rolen grounded out to third. (3 Runs,
    3 Hits, 2 Errors) LA DODGERS 0, ST LOUIS 5.

    LA DODGERS 6TH: R Furcal flied out to left. R Martin struck out looking.
    J Loney singled to center. L Gonzalez doubled to deep right center, J Loney
    scored. N Garciaparra flied out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
    LA DODGERS 1, ST LOUIS 5.

    ST LOUIS 7TH: M Kemp in center field. R Hernandez relieved D Lowe.
    A Kennedy flied out to center. A Miles grounded out to shortstop.
    R Ankiel homered to right. A Pujols walked. J Edmonds flied out to
    center. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 1, ST LOUIS 6.</div>
     
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    NL: LA DODGERS at ST LOUIS

    <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    LA DODGERS (1) AT ST LOUIS (6) - EVENT LOG
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    La Dodgers Starting Lineups -- R Furcal SS, R Martin C, J Loney 1B, L Gonzalez LF,
    N Garciaparra 3B, A Ethier RF, J Pierre CF, R Martinez 2B, D Lowe RHP.

    St Louis Starting Lineups -- A Miles SS, R Ankiel RF, A Pujols 1B, J Edmonds CF,
    C Duncan LF, S Rolen 3B, Y Molina C, A Kennedy 2B, B Looper RHP.

    Umpires -- Brian Gorman (HP), Paul Nauert (1B), Mike Everitt (2B), Gerry Davis (3B).

    Gametime Weather: 95 degrees, Sunny, wind out to right at 1 mph.


    LA DODGERS 1ST: R Furcal flied out to right. R Martin struck out looking.
    J Loney walked. L Gonzalez flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
    LA DODGERS 0, ST LOUIS 0.

    ST LOUIS 1ST: A Miles singled to center. R Ankiel homered to right,
    A Miles scored. A Pujols grounded out to third. J Edmonds grounded out
    to shortstop. C Duncan grounded out to first. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
    LA DODGERS 0, ST LOUIS 2.

    LA DODGERS 2ND: N Garciaparra grounded out to third. A Ethier flied out
    to left. J Pierre flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 0,
    ST LOUIS 2.

    ST LOUIS 2ND: S Rolen grounded out to second. Y Molina grounded out
    to shortstop. B Looper struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
    LA DODGERS 0, ST LOUIS 2.

    LA DODGERS 3RD: R Martinez grounded out to third. D Lowe flied out
    to center. R Furcal popped out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
    LA DODGERS 0, ST LOUIS 2.

    ST LOUIS 3RD: A Kennedy safe at first on error by shortstop R Furcal.
    A Miles reached on bunt single to third, A Kennedy to second. R Ankiel
    singled to right, A Kennedy to third, A Miles to second. A Pujols grounded
    into fielder's choice to shortstop, A Kennedy scored, A Miles to third,
    R Ankiel safe at second on error by shortstop R Furcal. J Edmonds singled
    to right, A Miles and R Ankiel scored, A Pujols thrown out at third.
    C Duncan struck out swinging. S Rolen grounded out to third. (3 Runs,
    3 Hits, 2 Errors) LA DODGERS 0, ST LOUIS 5.

    LA DODGERS 4TH: R Martin lined out to third. J Loney flied out to center.
    L Gonzalez lined out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 0,
    ST LOUIS 5.

    ST LOUIS 4TH: Y Molina grounded out to third. B Looper struck out
    swinging. A Kennedy singled to left. A Kennedy stole second. A Miles
    grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 0, ST LOUIS 5.

    LA DODGERS 5TH: N Garciaparra reached on infield single to shortstop.
    A Ethier doubled to right, N Garciaparra to third. J Pierre flied out
    to left. R Martinez struck out looking. D Lowe grounded out to shortstop.
    (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 0, ST LOUIS 5.

    ST LOUIS 5TH: R Ankiel lined out to right. A Pujols grounded out to
    shortstop. J Edmonds doubled to right. C Duncan struck out swinging.
    (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 0, ST LOUIS 5.

    LA DODGERS 6TH: R Furcal flied out to left. R Martin struck out looking.
    J Loney singled to center. L Gonzalez doubled to deep right center, J Loney
    scored. N Garciaparra flied out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
    LA DODGERS 1, ST LOUIS 5.

    ST LOUIS 6TH: S Rolen grounded out to shortstop. Y Molina struck out
    swinging. R Ludwick hit for B Looper. R Ludwick grounded out to third.
    (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 1, ST LOUIS 5.

    LA DODGERS 7TH: T Johnson relieved B Looper. A Ethier doubled to deep left.
    M Kemp hit for J Pierre. R Springer relieved T Johnson. M Kemp struck out
    swinging. R Martinez grounded out to second, A Ethier to third. M Sweeney
    hit for D Lowe. M Sweeney flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
    LA DODGERS 1, ST LOUIS 5.

    ST LOUIS 7TH: M Kemp in center field. R Hernandez relieved D Lowe.
    A Kennedy flied out to center. A Miles grounded out to shortstop. R Ankiel
    homered to right. A Pujols walked. J Edmonds flied out to center. (1 Run,
    1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 1, ST LOUIS 6.

    LA DODGERS 8TH: R Franklin relieved R Springer. R Furcal struck out
    swinging. R Martin flied out to right. J Loney flied out to right.
    (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 1, ST LOUIS 6.

    ST LOUIS 8TH: R Seanez relieved R Hernandez. C Duncan struck out looking.
    S Rolen singled to shallow left center. Y Molina grounded into double play,
    shortstop to first, S Rolen out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
    LA DODGERS 1, ST LOUIS 6.

    LA DODGERS 9TH: B Thompson relieved R Franklin. S Taguchi in left field.
    L Gonzalez fouled out to third. N Garciaparra grounded out to shortstop.
    A Ethier struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 1,
    ST LOUIS 6.</div>
     
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    Ankiel homers twice, continues remarkable comeback in Cardinals win

    <h3>ST LOUIS 6, LA DODGERS 1</h3>ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- The amazing story of Rick Ankiel's returnto the major leagues just keeps getting better.


    Ankiel recorded his first-career multi-homer game and BradenLooper carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning as the St.Louis Cardinals posted a 6-1 victory over the Los AngelesDodgers.


    It has been a remarkable journey from top pitching prospect topower hitting outfielder for the 28-year-old Ankiel, who homeredin his first game Thursday after being called up from Class AAAQuad Cities.


    Ankiel started his major league career as one of the top youngpitching prospects and won 11 games as a 20-year-old rookie in2000. He then fell apart in the postseason, throwing nine wildpitches, and after years of injuries he announced a switch tothe outfield in 2005.


    Ankiel hit 21 homers that season for Class AA Springfield andQuad Cities, and then spent the 2006 season on the disabled listwith a knee injury before making a miraculous comeback thisseason.


    The lefthanded hitter added another page in the story with atwo-run homer off Dodgers starter Derek Lowe (8-11) in the firstinning and a solo homer in the seventh off Roberto Hernandez tohelp the Cardinals to the third win in four games.

    After hitting 32 homers in the minors, Ankiel was called up onThursday and hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning offDoug Brocail of the San Diego Padres.


    Aaron Miles singled to lead off the first, Ankiel then blasted afirst-pitch fastball from Lowe over the right field wall andtook a curtain call upon his return to the dugout.

    Ankiel then added a two-out solo blast to right in the seventhfor a 6-1 lead.


    Looper (10-9) issued only a walk until Nomar Garciaparra'ssingle to lead off the fifth inning broke up his no-hit bid.

    Looper had little trouble with the Dodgers, who have been shutout in four of the last eight games - scoring just 15 runs inthat span. The righthander held the futile Los Angeles offenseto one run and four hits in six innings.


    Looper was relieved by Tyler Johnson after allowing a leadoffdouble to Andre Ethier in the seventh. Johnson failed to recordan out and Russ Springer finished if off.


    The Cardinals expanded a two-run edge to 5-0 when Albert Pujolshit an RBI groundout and Jim Edmonds scored a pair with a singlein the third. Two errors by shortstop Rafael Furcal made thethree-run frame possible.


    Adam Kennedy lead off the inning with a grounder that Furcalbooted. Miles and Ankiel singled and Furcal bobbled AlbertPujols's grounder allowing a run to score. Edmonds followed<div class="pre">with a single to right field scoring two.</div>

    Luis Gonzalez drove in the lone run with a double in the sixthfor the Dodgers (60-55), who have lost nine of 11 and fell 5 1/2games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks (66-51) in the NL West.

    Meanwhile, Lowe continued to struggle, allowing five runs -three earned - and seven hits in six innings. He remainedwinless since June 27 - span of eight starts.
     
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    Ankiel homers twice, continues remarkable comeback in Cardinals win

    <h3>ST LOUIS 6, LA DODGERS 1</h3>ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- The amazing story of Rick Ankiel's returnto the major leagues just keeps getting better.


    Ankiel recorded his first-career multi-homer game and BradenLooper carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning as the St.Louis Cardinals posted a 6-1 victory over the Los AngelesDodgers.


    It has been a remarkable journey from top pitching prospect topower hitting outfielder for the 28-year-old Ankiel, who homeredin his first game Thursday after being called up from Class AAAQuad Cities.


    Ankiel started his major league career as one of the top youngpitching prospects and won 11 games as a 20-year-old rookie in2000. He then fell apart in the postseason, throwing nine wildpitches, and after years of injuries he announced a switch tothe outfield in 2005.


    Ankiel hit 21 homers that season for Class AA Springfield andQuad Cities, and then spent the 2006 season on the disabled listwith a knee injury before making a miraculous comeback thisseason.


    The lefthanded hitter added another page in the story with atwo-run homer off Dodgers starter Derek Lowe (8-11) in the firstinning and a solo homer in the seventh off Roberto Hernandez tohelp the Cardinals to the third win in four games.

    After hitting 32 homers in the minors, Ankiel was called up onThursday and hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning offDoug Brocail of the San Diego Padres.


    Aaron Miles singled to lead off the first, Ankiel then blasted afirst-pitch fastball from Lowe over the right field wall andtook a curtain call upon his return to the dugout.

    Ankiel then added a two-out solo blast to right in the seventhfor a 6-1 lead.


    Looper (10-9) issued only a walk until Nomar Garciaparra'ssingle to lead off the fifth inning broke up his no-hit bid.

    Looper had little trouble with the Dodgers, who have been shutout in four of the last eight games - scoring just 15 runs inthat span. The righthander held the futile Los Angeles offenseto one run and four hits in six innings.


    Looper was relieved by Tyler Johnson after allowing a leadoffdouble to Andre Ethier in the seventh. Johnson failed to recordan out and Russ Springer finished if off.


    The Cardinals expanded a two-run edge to 5-0 when Albert Pujolshit an RBI groundout and Jim Edmonds scored a pair with a singlein the third. Two errors by shortstop Rafael Furcal made thethree-run frame possible.


    Adam Kennedy lead off the inning with a grounder that Furcalbooted. Miles and Ankiel singled and Furcal bobbled AlbertPujols's grounder allowing a run to score. Edmonds followed<div class="pre">with a single to right field scoring two.</div>

    Luis Gonzalez drove in the lone run with a double in the sixthfor the Dodgers (60-56), who have lost nine of 11 and fell 5 1/2games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks (66-51) in the NL West.

    Meanwhile, Lowe continued to struggle, allowing five runs -three earned - and seven hits in six innings. He remainedwinless since June 27 - span of eight starts.
     
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    Ankiel homers twice, continues remarkable comeback in Cardinals win

    <h3>ST LOUIS 6, LA DODGERS 1</h3>ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- The amazing story of Rick Ankiel's returnto the major leagues just keeps getting better.


    Ankiel recorded his first career multi-homer game and BradenLooper carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning as the St.Louis Cardinals posted a 6-1 victory over the Los AngelesDodgers on Saturday.


    It has been a remarkable journey from top pitching prospect topower-hitting outfielder for the 28-year-old Ankiel, who homeredin his first game Thursday after being called up from Class AAAMemphis.


    "He's had enough hard knocks that he's definitely not going toget too excited and celebrate too much," Cardinals manager TonyLa Russa said. "He's got a lot of paying back to this game todo. There's no danger that he's going to start getting ahead ofhimself."


    Ankiel started his major league career as one of the game'syoung pitchers and won 11 games as a 20-year-old rookie in 2000.He then fell apart in the postseason, throwing nine wildpitches, and after years of injuries, he announced a switch tothe outfield in 2005.


    Ankiel hit 21 homers that season for Class A Quad Cities andClass AA Springfield, then spent 2006 on the disabled list witha knee injury before making a miraculous comeback this campaign.

    The lefthanded hitter added another page to the story with atwo-run homer off Dodgers starter Derek Lowe (8-11) in the firstinning and a solo blast in the seventh off Roberto Hernandez,helping the Cardinals to their third win in four games.

    "I'm just excited," Ankiel said of his multi-homer game. "(But)don't hold me to days like this."


    After hitting 32 homers in the minors, Ankiel had his contractpurchased Thursday and hit a three-run homer in the seventhinning off Doug Brocail of the San Diego Padres.


    Aaron Miles singled to lead off the first and Ankiel blasted afirst-pitch fastball from Lowe over the right field wall for a2-0 lead. He took a curtain call upon his return to the dugout.

    "It wouldn't matter if he started off 0-for-16," Lowe said. "Tobe a pitcher, and then all of a sudden say, 'I'm going tobecome a hitter and make it to the major leagues.' St. Louis isin a pennant race, they're not just calling this guy up for afeel-good story. I'm amazed at what he can do. I know Icouldn't stop pitching and become a major league hitter."

    "That two-run home run in the first inning was pretty nice,"Looper said. "As a starting pitcher, to get two runs on theboard like that is pretty nice."


    Ankiel then added a two-out solo shot to right in the seventhfor a 6-1 lead.


    Meanwhile, Looper (10-9) issued only a walk until NomarGarciaparra's leadoff single in the fifth inning.


    Looper had little trouble with the Dodgers, who have been shutout in four of the last eight games - scoring just 15 runs inthat span. The righthander held Los Angeles' futile offense toone run and four hits in six innings.


    "We hit some balls good out there today," Dodgers manager GradyLittle said. "We're just still in kind of a rut. We just haveto keep swinging, battling and get out of it."


    Tyler Johnson started the seventh in relief of Looper andallowed a leadoff double by Andre Ethier. Russ Springer came onand retired the next three batters, and Ryan Franklin and BradThompson followed with a scoreless inning apiece to secure thevictory.


    The Cardinals expanded their lead to 5-0 in the third, whenAlbert Pujols hit an RBI groundout and Jim Edmonds delivered atwo-run single. Two errors by shortstop Rafael Furcal made thethree-run rally possible.


    Adam Kennedy lead off the inning with a grounder that Furcalbooted. Miles and Ankiel singled and Furcal bobbled Pujols'grounder, allowing a run to score.


    Luis Gonzalez drove in the lone run with a double in the sixthfor the Dodgers (60-56), who have lost nine of 11 and fell sixgames behind the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks (67-51) in theNational League West Division.


    Meanwhile, Lowe continued to struggle, allowing five runs -three earned - and seven hits in six innings. He remainedwinless since June 27, a span of eight starts.


    "Sometimes you get in these bad rolls where it seems like winsare so hard to come by," Lowe said. "There's really no magicpotion you can take. You can't feel sorry for yourself and putyour head in the sand. You have to go out there and expect towin."
     

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