GAME THREAD: NL: ST LOUIS (56-60) at MILWAUKEE (62-57)

NL: ST LOUIS at MILWAUKEE

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS (8) VS MILWAUKEE (3) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 5 0 2 1 0 0 1 .299
R Ankiel rf 5 0 1 0 0 2 1 .296
T Johnson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
A Pujols 1b 5 1 2 1 0 1 3 .318
J Edmonds cf 4 2 2 1 0 1 1 .258
S Taguchi cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .298
S Rolen 3b 5 3 4 2 0 0 0 .270
C Duncan lf 5 0 1 1 0 1 1 .274
Y Molina c 4 1 1 1 0 2 2 .270
J Pineiro p 4 1 0 0 0 3 5 .000
R Springer p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Ludwick rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
B Ryan 2b 2 0 0 1 1 0 5 .338

Totals 40 8 13 8 1 11 20

BATTING: 2B - Y Molina (10, Y Gallardo); S Rolen (19, Y Gallardo); C Duncan
(18, Y Gallardo). HR - A Pujols (25, 1st inning off Y Gallardo 0 on, 2 Out), S
Rolen (8, 1st inning off Y Gallardo 1 on, 2 Out), J Edmonds (8, 7th inning off
C Villanueva 0 on, 0 Out). S - B Ryan. RBI - A Pujols (76), S Rolen 2 (53), Y
Molina (23), C Duncan (60), B Ryan (9), D Eckstein (21), J Edmonds (33). 2-out
RBI - A Pujols, S Rolen 2, D Eckstein. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- A Pujols 1, B Ryan 2. Team LOB - 8.


MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Hart rf 3 0 1 1 0 0 1 .273
J Hardy ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .269
P Fielder 1b 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .286
R Braun 3b 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .350
G Jenkins lf 3 1 1 1 0 2 0 .277
J Estrada c 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
B Hall cf 3 1 2 1 0 0 0 .264
C Counsell 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .226
Y Gallardo p 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .217
C Villanueva p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
a-J Dillon ph 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .667
B Shouse p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 29 3 6 3 0 5 7

a-tripled to deep left center for C Villanueva in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - B Hall (31, J Pineiro). 3B - J Dillon (2, R Springer). HR - B
Hall (10, 2nd inning off J Pineiro 0 on, 2 Out), G Jenkins (18, 7th inning off
J Pineiro 0 on, 1 Out). SF - C Hart. RBI - B Hall (46), G Jenkins (51), C Hart
(53). 2-out RBI - B Hall. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Counsell
1, R Braun 1. Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Hart (19, 2nd base off J Pineiro/Y Molina).

FIELDING: E - P Fielder (12, throw).


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 300 103 100 -- 8
MILWAUKEE - 010 000 11 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Pineiro 7 5 2 2 0 4 2 2.84
R Springer 2/3 1 1 1 0 0 0 2.98
T Johnson 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.05

MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era
Y Gallardo 5 2/3 9 7 7 1 6 2 4.84
C Villanueva 2 1/3 4 1 1 0 3 1 4.69
B Shouse 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 2.52

WP - Y Gallardo. HBP - Y Molina (by Y Gallardo). Pitches-strikes: J Pineiro
97-67; R Springer 9-6; T Johnson 4-3; Y Gallardo 100-69; C Villanueva 42-26; B
Shouse 16-11. Ground balls-fly balls: J Pineiro 9-8; R Springer 1-1; T Johnson
0-0; Y Gallardo 6-5; C Villanueva 2-3; B Shouse 0-1. Batters faced: J Pineiro
26; R Springer 3; T Johnson 1; Y Gallardo 28; C Villanueva 12; B Shouse 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Doug Eddings. 1B--Mike Everitt. 2B--Dana Demuth. 3B--Kerwin
Danley.

Weather: 74 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 3 mph, in from center.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at MILWAUKEE

<div class="pre">NL AT MILWAUKEE - PITCHING CHANGE
STL: JASON ISRINGHAUSEN (4-0, 1.71) IN THE 9TH
SITUATION: NO RUNS IN, G JENKINS ON FIRST, R BRAUN ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 8, MILWAUKEE 3

DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: B HALL (.264, 2-FOR-3, HR, RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at MILWAUKEE

<div class="pre">NL AT MILWAUKEE - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Isringhausen relieved T Johnson.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, G JENKINS ON FIRST, R BRAUN ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 8
MILWAUKEE 3 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: B Hall (.264, 2-FOR-3, HR, RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at MILWAUKEE

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ST LOUIS 3 0 0 1 0 3 1 0 0 8 13 0
MILWAUKEE 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 3 7 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: STL - JOEL PINEIRO, RUSS SPRINGER (8TH), TYLER JOHNSON (8TH), JASON
ISRINGHAUSEN (9TH) AND YADIER MOLINA

MIL - YOVANI GALLARDO, CARLOS VILLANUEVA (6TH), BRIAN
SHOUSE (9TH) AND JOHNNY ESTRADA

HOME RUNS: STL - ALBERT PUJOLS (25) OFF YOVANI GALLARDO IN THE 1ST, 0 ON
SCOTT ROLEN (8) OFF YOVANI GALLARDO IN THE 1ST, 1 ON
JIM EDMONDS (8) OFF CARLOS VILLANUEVA IN THE 7TH, 0 ON

MIL - BILL HALL (10) OFF JOEL PINEIRO IN THE 2ND, 0 ON
GEOFF JENKINS (18) OFF JOEL PINEIRO IN THE 7TH, 0 ON</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at MILWAUKEE

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ST LOUIS 3 0 0 1 0 3 1 0 0 8 13 0
MILWAUKEE 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 3 7 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: STL - JOEL PINEIRO, RUSS SPRINGER (8TH), TYLER JOHNSON (8TH), JASON
ISRINGHAUSEN (9TH) AND YADIER MOLINA

MIL - YOVANI GALLARDO, CARLOS VILLANUEVA (6TH), BRIAN
SHOUSE (9TH) AND JOHNNY ESTRADA


WP - JOEL PINEIRO (2-1)
LP - YOVANI GALLARDO (4-3)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: STL - ALBERT PUJOLS (25) OFF YOVANI GALLARDO IN THE 1ST, 0 ON
SCOTT ROLEN (8) OFF YOVANI GALLARDO IN THE 1ST, 1 ON
JIM EDMONDS (8) OFF CARLOS VILLANUEVA IN THE 7TH, 0 ON

MIL - BILL HALL (10) OFF JOEL PINEIRO IN THE 2ND, 0 ON
GEOFF JENKINS (18) OFF JOEL PINEIRO IN THE 7TH, 0 ON


TIME: 2:45 ATT: 33,404

PROBABLES: STL - ADAM WAINWRIGHT (10-9, 4.21)
MIL - DAVE BUSH (9-8, 5.07)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at MILWAUKEE

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS (8) VS MILWAUKEE (3) - FINAL

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 5 0 2 1 0 0 1 .299
R Ankiel rf 5 0 1 0 0 2 1 .296
T Johnson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Isringhausen p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
A Pujols 1b 5 1 2 1 0 1 3 .318
J Edmonds cf 4 2 2 1 0 1 1 .258
S Taguchi cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .298
S Rolen 3b 5 3 4 2 0 0 0 .270
C Duncan lf 5 0 1 1 0 1 1 .274
Y Molina c 4 1 1 1 0 2 2 .270
J Pineiro p 4 1 0 0 0 3 5 .000
R Springer p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Ludwick rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
B Ryan 2b 2 0 0 1 1 0 5 .338

Totals 40 8 13 8 1 11 20

BATTING: 2B - Y Molina (10, Y Gallardo); S Rolen (19, Y Gallardo); C Duncan
(18, Y Gallardo). HR - A Pujols (25, 1st inning off Y Gallardo 0 on, 2 Out), S
Rolen (8, 1st inning off Y Gallardo 1 on, 2 Out), J Edmonds (8, 7th inning off
C Villanueva 0 on, 0 Out). S - B Ryan. RBI - A Pujols (76), S Rolen 2 (53), Y
Molina (23), C Duncan (60), B Ryan (9), D Eckstein (21), J Edmonds (33). 2-out
RBI - A Pujols, S Rolen 2, D Eckstein. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- A Pujols 1, B Ryan 2. Team LOB - 8.


MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Hart rf 3 0 1 1 0 0 1 .273
J Hardy ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .269
P Fielder 1b 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .286
R Braun 3b 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 .350
G Jenkins lf 4 1 2 1 0 2 0 .280
J Estrada c 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .280
B Hall cf 4 1 2 1 0 1 2 .263
C Counsell 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .225
Y Gallardo p 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .217
C Villanueva p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
a-J Dillon ph 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .667
B Shouse p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 33 3 7 3 1 7 13

a-tripled to deep left center for C Villanueva in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - B Hall (31, J Pineiro). 3B - J Dillon (2, R Springer). HR - B
Hall (10, 2nd inning off J Pineiro 0 on, 2 Out), G Jenkins (18, 7th inning off
J Pineiro 0 on, 1 Out). SF - C Hart. RBI - B Hall (46), G Jenkins (51), C Hart
(53). 2-out RBI - B Hall. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Counsell
2, R Braun 1. Team LOB - 5.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Hart (19, 2nd base off J Pineiro/Y Molina).

FIELDING: E - P Fielder (12, throw).


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 300 103 100 -- 8
MILWAUKEE - 010 000 110 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Pineiro (W, 2-1) 7 5 2 2 0 4 2 2.84
R Springer 2/3 1 1 1 0 0 0 2.98
T Johnson 2/3 1 0 0 1 1 0 4.00
J Isringhausen 2/3 0 0 0 0 2 0 1.69

MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era
Y Gallardo (L, 4-3) 5 2/3 9 7 7 1 6 2 4.84
C Villanueva 2 1/3 4 1 1 0 3 1 4.69
B Shouse 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 2.52

WP - Y Gallardo. HBP - Y Molina (by Y Gallardo). Pitches-strikes: J Pineiro
97-67; R Springer 9-6; T Johnson 15-8; J Isringhausen 8-6; Y Gallardo 100-69; C
Villanueva 42-26; B Shouse 16-11. Ground balls-fly balls: J Pineiro 9-8; R
Springer 1-1; T Johnson 0-1; J Isringhausen 0-0; Y Gallardo 6-5; C Villanueva
2-3; B Shouse 0-1. Batters faced: J Pineiro 26; R Springer 3; T Johnson 4; J
Isringhausen 2; Y Gallardo 28; C Villanueva 12; B Shouse 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Doug Eddings. 1B--Mike Everitt. 2B--Dana Demuth. 3B--Kerwin
Danley.

T--2:45. Att--33,404.
Weather: 74 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 3 mph, in from
center.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at MILWAUKEE

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
ST LOUIS 8
MILWAUKEE 3 FINAL</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at MILWAUKEE

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ST LOUIS (8) AT MILWAUKEE (3) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ST LOUIS 1ST: D Eckstein fouled out to catcher. R Ankiel flied out to
center. A Pujols homered to center. J Edmonds singled to center. S Rolen
homered to left, J Edmonds scored. C Duncan popped out to shortstop. (3 Runs,
3 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 3, MILWAUKEE 0.

MILWAUKEE 2ND: G Jenkins struck out swinging. J Estrada grounded out to
shortstop. B Hall homered to left center. C Counsell grounded out to
shortstop. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 3, MILWAUKEE 1.

ST LOUIS 4TH: S Rolen singled to right. C Duncan flied out to left.
Y Molina doubled to left, S Rolen scored. J Pineiro struck out swinging. B Ryan
grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 4, MILWAUKEE 1.

ST LOUIS 6TH: S Rolen doubled to right. C Duncan doubled to deep right,
S Rolen scored. Y Molina hit by pitch. J Pineiro bunted into fielder's choice
to pitcher, C Duncan out at third, Y Molina to second. Y Molina to third,
J Pineiro to second on wild pitch by Y Gallardo. B Ryan sacrificed to pitcher,
Y Molina scored, J Pineiro to third. D Eckstein singled to right, J Pineiro
scored. C Villanueva relieved Y Gallardo. R Ankiel singled to right,
D Eckstein to second. A Pujols flied out to right. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors)
ST LOUIS 7, MILWAUKEE 1.

ST LOUIS 7TH: J Edmonds homered to left. S Rolen singled to center.
C Duncan grounded into fielder's choice to first, S Rolen safe at second on
throwing error by first baseman P Fielder. Y Molina flied out to left.
J Pineiro struck out looking. B Ryan popped out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits,
1 Error) ST LOUIS 8, MILWAUKEE 1.

MILWAUKEE 7TH: S Taguchi in center field. R Braun flied out to left.
G Jenkins homered to left center. J Estrada grounded out to second. B Hall
doubled to left. C Counsell grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
ST LOUIS 8, MILWAUKEE 2.

MILWAUKEE 8TH: R Springer relieved J Pineiro. J Dillon hit for
C Villanueva. J Dillon tripled to deep left center. C Hart hit sacrifice fly to
center, J Dillon scored. J Hardy grounded out to shortstop. T Johnson
relieved R Springer. R Ludwick in right field. P Fielder struck out swinging.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 8, MILWAUKEE 3.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at MILWAUKEE

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ST LOUIS (8) AT MILWAUKEE (3) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

Milwaukee Starting Lineups -- C Hart RF, J Hardy SS, P Fielder 1B, R Braun 3B,
G Jenkins LF, J Estrada C, B Hall CF, C Counsell 2B, Y Gallardo RHP.

Umpires -- Doug Eddings (HP), Mike Everitt (1B), Dana Demuth (2B),
Kerwin Danley (3B).

Gametime Weather: 74 degrees, Cloudy, wind in from center at 3 mph.


ST LOUIS 1ST: D Eckstein fouled out to catcher. R Ankiel flied out to
center. A Pujols homered to center. J Edmonds singled to center. S Rolen
homered to left, J Edmonds scored. C Duncan popped out to shortstop. (3 Runs,
3 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 3, MILWAUKEE 0.

MILWAUKEE 1ST: C Hart singled to left. J Hardy fouled out to catcher.
P Fielder flied out to center. C Hart stole second. R Braun struck out swinging.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 3, MILWAUKEE 0.

ST LOUIS 2ND: Y Molina struck out looking. J Pineiro struck out swinging.
B Ryan walked. D Eckstein grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) ST LOUIS 3, MILWAUKEE 0.

MILWAUKEE 2ND: G Jenkins struck out swinging. J Estrada grounded out to
shortstop. B Hall homered to left center. C Counsell grounded out to
shortstop. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 3, MILWAUKEE 1.

ST LOUIS 3RD: R Ankiel struck out swinging. A Pujols grounded out to
shortstop. J Edmonds struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 3,
MILWAUKEE 1.

MILWAUKEE 3RD: Y Gallardo singled to center. C Hart grounded into
fielder's choice to third, Y Gallardo out at second. J Hardy grounded into
fielder's choice to third, C Hart out at second. P Fielder struck out
swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 3, MILWAUKEE 1.

ST LOUIS 4TH: S Rolen singled to right. C Duncan flied out to left.
Y Molina doubled to left, S Rolen scored. J Pineiro struck out swinging. B Ryan
grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 4, MILWAUKEE 1.

MILWAUKEE 4TH: R Braun fouled out to catcher. G Jenkins struck out
swinging. J Estrada grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
ST LOUIS 4, MILWAUKEE 1.

ST LOUIS 5TH: D Eckstein singled to right. R Ankiel popped out to
shortstop. A Pujols struck out swinging. J Edmonds grounded out to third.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 4, MILWAUKEE 1.

MILWAUKEE 5TH: B Hall flied out to center. C Counsell popped out to third.
Y Gallardo grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 4,
MILWAUKEE 1.

ST LOUIS 6TH: S Rolen doubled to right. C Duncan doubled to deep right,
S Rolen scored. Y Molina hit by pitch. J Pineiro bunted into fielder's choice
to pitcher, C Duncan out at third, Y Molina to second. Y Molina to third,
J Pineiro to second on wild pitch by Y Gallardo. B Ryan sacrificed to pitcher,
Y Molina scored, J Pineiro to third. D Eckstein singled to right, J Pineiro
scored. C Villanueva relieved Y Gallardo. R Ankiel singled to right,
D Eckstein to second. A Pujols flied out to right. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors)
ST LOUIS 7, MILWAUKEE 1.

MILWAUKEE 6TH: C Hart popped out to third. J Hardy lined out to center.
P Fielder grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 7,
MILWAUKEE 1.

ST LOUIS 7TH: J Edmonds homered to left. S Rolen singled to center.
C Duncan grounded into fielder's choice to first, S Rolen safe at second on
throwing error by first baseman P Fielder. Y Molina flied out to left.
J Pineiro struck out looking. B Ryan popped out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits,
1 Error) ST LOUIS 8, MILWAUKEE 1.

MILWAUKEE 7TH: S Taguchi in center field. R Braun flied out to left.
G Jenkins homered to left center. J Estrada grounded out to second. B Hall
doubled to left. C Counsell grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
ST LOUIS 8, MILWAUKEE 2.

ST LOUIS 8TH: D Eckstein grounded out to shortstop. R Ankiel struck out
looking. A Pujols singled to left. S Taguchi struck out looking. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 8, MILWAUKEE 2.

MILWAUKEE 8TH: R Springer relieved J Pineiro. J Dillon hit for
C Villanueva. J Dillon tripled to deep left center. C Hart hit sacrifice fly to
center, J Dillon scored. J Hardy grounded out to shortstop. T Johnson
relieved R Springer. R Ludwick in right field. P Fielder struck out swinging.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 8, MILWAUKEE 3.

ST LOUIS 9TH: B Shouse relieved C Villanueva. S Rolen lined out to second.
C Duncan struck out swinging. Y Molina struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) ST LOUIS 8, MILWAUKEE 3.

MILWAUKEE 9TH: R Braun walked. G Jenkins singled to right, R Braun to
second. J Estrada flied out to center. J Isringhausen relieved T Johnson.
B Hall struck out swinging. C Counsell struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) ST LOUIS 8, MILWAUKEE 3.</div>

 

Rolen's four hits help Cardinals creep closer in NL Central

<h3>ST LOUIS 8, MILWAUKEE 3</h3>By JR Radcliffe
PA Sportsticker Contributing Writer


MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Scott Rolen helped the St. Louis Cardinalsinch closer in the National League Central Division race Wednesday.

Rolen had four hits, including a two-run homer, and Joel Pineiropitched seven effective innings as the Cardinals cruised totheir fourth consecutive win, an 8-3 victory over the MilwaukeeBrewers.


Albert Pujols and Jim Edmonds added solo home runs for theCardinals, who moved to with 3 1/2 games of the division-leadingBrewers after trouncing them for the second straight night.

Rolen sent a 1-1 offering from Milwaukee starter Yovani Gallardo(4-3) over the left-center field wall for a two-run shot togive St. Louis a 3-0 advantage.


The 32-year-old third baseman, who scored three runs, addedsingles in the fourth and seventh, respectively, and a double inthe sixth frame. Rolen is batting .270 with eight home runsand 53 RBI on the season.


Pineiro (2-1) allowed two runs and five hits over seven innings,with no walks and four strikeouts. The Puerto Ricanrighthander is 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA in three starts since comingto St. Louis from the Boston Red Sox.


The Cardinals, who have won seven of their last nine, initiatedthe scoring when Albert Pujols hit a majestic 445-foot solo home<div class="pre">run to center in the first inning the 275th of his career.</div>

Bill Hall went deep for the 10th time this season with a soloshot in the second and Geoff Jenkins hit his fourth home run inthree games with a solo blast in the seventh against Pineiro,but Milwaukee still stumbled to its seventh loss in nine games.

Despite a tenuous hold on first place in the NL Central, theBrewers fell to four games above .500, their lowest mark sinceJune 12 when Detroit Tigers righthander Justin Verlander threw ano-hitter against them.


Milwaukee starters are now 1-8 in their last 16 outings, with a7.64 ERA. The starters have not had a win since August 3 atPhiladelphia, when Gallardo turned the feat.


In this outing, the rookie allowed seven runs and nine hits withsix strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings but looking shaky for thesecond straight outing.


Yadier Molina delivered an RBI double in the fourth to pad St.Louis' advantage to 4-1 in the fourth inning.


Rolen conspired with Chris Duncan on back-to-back doublesleading off the sixth, plating another run and Brendan Ryanlater added a successful sacrifice squeeze followed by a DavidEckstein run-scoring single to open up a 7-1 Cardinals lead.

Edmonds added a home run against reliever Carlos Villanueva inthe seventh, his first since June 9. The 37-year-old centerfielder has seven multi-hit performances in his last 11contests.


The Cardinals have scored 32 runs in their last three games.

 

Rolen's four hits help Cardinals creep closer in NL Central

<h3>ST LOUIS 8, MILWAUKEE 3</h3>By JR Radcliffe
PA Sportsticker Contributing Writer


MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Scott Rolen helped the St. Louis Cardinalsinch closer in the National League Central Division race Wednesday.

Rolen had four hits, including a two-run homer, and Joel Pineiropitched seven effective innings as the Cardinals cruised totheir fourth consecutive win, an 8-3 victory over the MilwaukeeBrewers.


Albert Pujols and Jim Edmonds added solo home runs for theCardinals, who moved within 3 1/2 games of the division-leadingBrewers after trouncing them for the second straight night.

"It was just a well-played game by everybody that was inuniform," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "It starts withJoel and the game the third baseman (Rolen) had was Hall ofFame material. Defensively, he got a big play and knocked aball down over to David (for an out in the third), that was abig out. He hit the ball hard every time up and got a lot ofhelp from his teammates."


Rolen sent a 1-1 offering from Milwaukee starter Yovani Gallardo(4-3) over the left-center field wall for a two-run shot togive St. Louis a 3-0 advantage.


The 32-year-old third baseman, who scored three runs, addedsingles in the fourth and seventh, respectively, and a double inthe sixth frame. Rolen is batting .270 with eight home runsand 53 RBI on the season.


Pineiro (2-1) allowed two runs and five hits over seven innings,with no walks and four strikeouts. The Puerto Ricanrighthander is 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA in three starts since comingto St. Louis from the Boston Red Sox.


"A lot of it was in the hands of Yaddy (Yadier Molina), hecalled a good game," Pineiro said of his catcher. "They madegreat plays behind me all the way around, center field, Rolen... it was a great team win today."


The Cardinals, who have won seven of their last nine, initiatedthe scoring when Albert Pujols hit a majestic 445-foot solo homerun to center in the first inning - the 275th of his career.It was the first time since April that both Pujols and Rolen hadhomered in the same game.


"I'm just looking at the fact that we had double figure hits,"La Russa said. "We're not looking at home runs. Everyone iscompeting all the way to the end, and it's fun to see that.Whatever the production is, it is. We're putting together abunch of tough at-bats."


Bill Hall went deep for the 10th time this season with a soloshot in the second and Geoff Jenkins hit his fourth home run inthree games with a solo blast in the seventh against Pineiro,but Milwaukee still stumbled to its seventh loss in nine games.

Despite a tenuous hold on first place in the NL Central, theBrewers fell to four games above .500, their lowest mark sinceJune 12 when Detroit Tigers righthander Justin Verlander threw ano-hitter against them.


Milwaukee starters are now 1-8 in their last 16 outings, with a7.64 ERA. The starters have not had a win since August 3 atPhiladelphia, when Gallardo turned the feat.


"You just keep hoping that today is the day that we're going tobreak out of it," Brewers manager Ned Yost said of his team'spitching woes.


In this outing, the rookie allowed seven runs and nine hits withsix strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings but looking shaky for thesecond straight outing.


"I felt fine, the velocity, everything," Gallardo said. "Ithrew three pitches for strikes and it was just one of thosedays where they were able to put some hits together and scoresome runs. It's tough, but there's nothing you can do about it.There's going to be long stretches like that, but you've gotto battle through it."


"Our focus is to go in there and make the pitcher work," Pujolssaid. "We know that kid has good stuff ... today he was outthere in the fourth inning at 75 or 85 pitches. We're makingpitchers work right now, and that's good. We were strugglingfor a while earlier in the year and in the last month or sowe've been swinging the bat pretty well and we've been stayinghealthy."


Yadier Molina delivered an RBI double in the fourth to pad St.Louis' advantage to 4-1 in the fourth inning.


Rolen conspired with Chris Duncan on back-to-back doublesleading off the sixth, plating another run and Brendan Ryanlater added a successful sacrifice squeeze followed by a DavidEckstein run-scoring single to open up a 7-1 Cardinals lead.

Edmonds added a home run against reliever Carlos Villanueva inthe seventh, his first since June 9. The 37-year-old centerfielder has seven multi-hit performances in his last 11contests.


The Cardinals have scored 32 runs in their last three games.

"If you're going to make a move, this is the right time to doit," Pujols said. "There's not too much season left. Six weeksseems like a lot of season, but it's not. There's a couple roadtrips here and there and suddenly you're in the middle ofSeptember and it's too late. Our goal was just to come here andwin the series and hopefuilly we can come tomorrow and take therest."