GAME THREAD: NL: ST LOUIS (58-60) at CHICAGO CUBS (61-59)

NL: ST LOUIS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS (1) VS CHICAGO CUBS (2) - FINAL

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 3 0 1 0 1 1 0 .301
R Ludwick lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .249
a-R Ankiel ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .296
R Springer p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
A Pujols 1b 4 1 2 1 0 0 2 .319
J Encarnacion rf 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .285
S Rolen 3b 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 .267
J Edmonds cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .249
Y Molina c 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 .277
B Looper p 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 .184
R Flores p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-C Duncan ph-lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .272
B Ryan 2b 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .333

Totals 30 1 4 1 3 8 8

a-walked for R Ludwick in the 8th; b-struck out swinging for R Flores in the
8th.

BATTING: HR - A Pujols (26, 6th inning off R Hill 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - A Pujols
(78). 2-out RBI - A Pujols. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Ludwick
1, A Pujols 1. Team LOB - 5.

BASERUNNING: SB - D Eckstein (7, 2nd base off B Howry/J Kendall).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Pujols-D Eckstein-A Pujols).


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Theriot ss 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 .290
J Jones cf-rf 4 1 1 2 0 1 1 .276
D Lee 1b 3 0 0 0 1 3 1 .310
A Ramirez 3b 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 .321
D Ward rf 3 0 1 0 0 0 3 .306
F Pie cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217
M Murton lf 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .263
M Fontenot 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
J Kendall c 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .299
R Hill p 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .130
a-R Cedeno ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .118
B Howry p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Dempster p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 27 2 4 2 3 6 8

a-grounded to second for R Hill in the 7th.

BATTING: 2B - D Ward (8, B Looper). HR - J Jones (5, 6th inning off B Looper 1
on, 1 Out). RBI - J Jones 2 (46). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D
Ward 1, M Murton 2. GIDP - D Ward. Team LOB - 4.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Jones (5, 2nd base off B Looper/Y Molina).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Kendall).

----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 000 001 000 -- 1
CHICAGO CUBS - 000 002 00x -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
B Looper (L, 10-10) 6 4 2 2 3 4 1 4.98
R Flores 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.10
R Springer 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.91

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
R Hill (W, 7-7) 7 3 1 1 2 7 1 3.73
B Howry (H, 13) 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 3.86
R Dempster (S, 18) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.47

IBB - A Ramirez (by B Looper). Pitches-strikes: B Looper 101-56; R Flores
10-7; R Springer 11-7; R Hill 115-76; B Howry 18-10; R Dempster 9-5. Ground
balls-fly balls: B Looper 8-6; R Flores 2-0; R Springer 1-1; R Hill 5-8; B
Howry 0-2; R Dempster 1-2. Batters faced: B Looper 24; R Flores 3; R Springer
3; R Hill 25; B Howry 5; R Dempster 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Angel Hernandez. 1B--Ted Barrett. 2B--Mark Carlson. 3B--Derryl
Cousins.

T--2:30. Att--41,634.
Weather: 76 degrees, sunny. Wind: 10 mph, in from
left.</div>

 

Jones' bat, glove help Cubs deck Cards

<h3>CHICAGO CUBS 2, ST. LOUIS 1</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Jacque Jones was responsible for platingtwo runs and perhaps saving another on Friday.


Jones belted a two-run home run in the sixth inning and made apotential run-saving catch in the field as the Chicago Cubsedged the St. Louis Cardinals, 2-1.


The victory pulled the Cubs (62-59) into a tie with theMilwaukee Brewers (62-59) for first place in the National LeagueCentral Division. The Brewers host the Cincinnati Reds Fridayevening.


St. Louis (58-61) saw its five-game winning streak come to ahalt and fell three games behind Milwaukee.


Jones' blast - his fifth of the season - helped continue his hothitting. He went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI inChicago's 12-4 victory over Cincinnati on Thursday. During hisseason-high nine-game hitting streak, Jones is 19-for-39 withthree homers and 13 RBIs.


Jones' glove also played a part in this one.


With Yadier Molina on first in the fifth, Brendan Ryan launcheda fly ball to center field that seemed destined for extra bases.Jones went back to the warning track and robbed Ryan with anover-the-shoulder grab against the ivy that brought a pronouncedcheer from the Wrigley Field faithful.


Also producing cheers was Chicago starter Rich Hill (7-7), whoallowed one run and three hits while striking out seven.

His one mistake resulted in a solo blast in the sixth inning byAlbert Pujols, his 26th homer of the season.


Bobby Howry pitched the eighth and Ryan Dempster retired theside in the ninth for his 18th save of the season.

Braden Looper (10-10) was the hard-luck loser after allowingjust two runs and four hits in six innings. Entering Friday'sgame, the righthander had won both starts against Chicago thisseason, limiting the Cubs to a .196 batting average.

 

Jones' bat, glove help Cubs deck Cards

<h3>CHICAGO CUBS 2, ST. LOUIS 1</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Jacque Jones was responsible for platingtwo runs and perhaps saving another on Friday.


Jones belted a two-run home run in the sixth inning and made apotential run-saving catch in the field as the Chicago Cubsedged the St. Louis Cardinals, 2-1.


The victory pulled the Cubs (62-59) into a tie with theMilwaukee Brewers (62-59) for first place in the National LeagueCentral Division. The Brewers host the Cincinnati Reds Fridayevening.


St. Louis (58-61) saw its five-game winning streak come to ahalt and fell three games behind Milwaukee.


"It was a game that was well played," Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa said. "There was good pitching and good defense, the onlydifference was that their center fielder (Jones) had a big hit.His big hit was bigger than our big hit."


Jones' blast - his fifth of the season - helped continue his hothitting. He went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI inChicago's 12-4 victory over Cincinnati on Thursday. During hisseason-high nine-game hitting streak, Jones is 19-for-39 withthree homers and 13 RBIs.


"When I hit the home run, I felt good for the guys and theteam," Jones said. "We are getting down to the nitty grittynow. Anytime we can do something positive, it's good."

Jones' glove also played a part in this one.


With Yadier Molina on first in the fifth, Brendan Ryan launcheda fly ball to center field that seemed destined for extra bases.Jones went back to the warning track and robbed Ryan with anover-the-shoulder grab against the ivy that brought a pronouncedcheer from the Wrigley Field faithful.


"The ball was hit good but I got a jump on it," Jones said. "Myonly concern was hitting the wall. I went full out, when I hitthe little strip of grass behind the track, I knew it would beclose."


Also producing cheers was Chicago starter Rich Hill (7-7), whoallowed one run and three hits while striking out seven.

"It was a good-pitched game on both sides," Cubs manager LouPiniella said. "Hill did a nice job, we were fortunate to comeout on top."


His one mistake resulted in a solo blast in the sixth inning byAlbert Pujols, his 26th homer of the season.


"That is what it's all about: great pitching. There were acouple of mistakes on both sides," Pujols said. "I had a greatchance to tie the game in the eighth inning, I just got underthe ball a little bit."


Bobby Howry pitched the eighth and Ryan Dempster retired theside in the ninth for his 18th save of the season.

"It's nice to win the opening game of a series," Howry said."It's been a while since we have been able to do that. It setsthe tone for the next three games."


Braden Looper (10-10) was the hard-luck loser after allowingjust two runs and four hits in six innings. Entering Friday'sgame, the righthander had won both starts against Chicago thisseason, limiting the Cubs to a .196 batting average.

"I felt like I was in control of the game," Looper said. "I justmade a bad pitch at a bad time. You have to tip your cap toJacque. It was the only pitch I gave him to hit all day."

 

Jones' bat, glove help Cubs deck Cards

<h3>CHICAGO CUBS 2, ST. LOUIS 1</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Jacque Jones was responsible for platingtwo runs and perhaps saving another on Friday.


Jones belted a two-run home run in the sixth inning and made apotential run-saving catch in the field as the Chicago Cubsedged the St. Louis Cardinals, 2-1.


The victory pulled the Cubs (62-59) into a tie with theMilwaukee Brewers (62-59) for first place in the National LeagueCentral Division. The Brewers host the Cincinnati Reds Fridayevening.


St. Louis (58-61) saw its five-game winning streak come to ahalt and fell three games behind Milwaukee.


"It was a game that was well played," Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa said. "There was good pitching and good defense, the onlydifference was that their center fielder (Jones) had a big hit.His big hit was bigger than our big hit."


Jones' blast - his fifth of the season - helped continue his hothitting. He went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI inChicago's 12-4 victory over Cincinnati on Thursday. During hisseason-high nine-game hitting streak, Jones is 19-for-39 withthree homers and 13 RBIs.


"When I hit the home run, I felt good for the guys and theteam," Jones said. "We are getting down to the nitty grittynow. Anytime we can do something positive, it's good."

Jones' glove also played a part in this one.


With Yadier Molina on first in the fifth, Brendan Ryan launcheda fly ball to center field that seemed destined for extra bases.Jones went back to the warning track and robbed Ryan with anover-the-shoulder grab against the ivy that brought a pronouncedcheer from the Wrigley Field faithful.


"The ball was hit good but I got a jump on it," Jones said. "Myonly concern was hitting the wall. I went full out, when I hitthe little strip of grass behind the track, I knew it would beclose."


Also producing cheers was Chicago starter Rich Hill (7-7), whoallowed one run and three hits while striking out seven.

"It was a good-pitched game on both sides," Cubs manager LouPiniella said. "Hill did a nice job, we were fortunate to comeout on top."


His one mistake resulted in a solo blast in the sixth inning byAlbert Pujols, his 26th homer of the season.


"That is what it's all about: great pitching. There were acouple of mistakes on both sides," Pujols said. "I had a greatchance to tie the game in the eighth inning, I just got underthe ball a little bit."


Bobby Howry pitched the eighth and Ryan Dempster retired theside in the ninth for his 18th save of the season.

"It's nice to win the opening game of a series," Howry said."It's been a while since we have been able to do that. It setsthe tone for the next three games."


Braden Looper (10-10) was the hard-luck loser after allowingjust two runs and four hits in six innings. Entering Friday'sgame, the righthander had won both starts against Chicago thisseason, limiting the Cubs to a .196 batting average.

"I felt like I was in control of the game," Looper said. "I justmade a bad pitch at a bad time. You have to tip your cap toJacque. It was the only pitch I gave him to hit all day."

 

Jones' bat, glove help Cubs deck Cards

<h3>CHICAGO CUBS 2, ST. LOUIS 1</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Jacque Jones was responsible for platingtwo runs and perhaps saving another on Friday.


Jones belted a two-run home run in the sixth inning and made apotential run-saving catch in the field as the Chicago Cubsedged the St. Louis Cardinals, 2-1.


The victory, coupled with the Milwaukee Brewers' 8-3 loss to theCincinnati Reds, lifted the Cubs (62-59) into first place inthe National League Central Division. The Brewers are now62-60.


St. Louis (58-61) saw its five-game winning streak come to ahalt and fell three games behind Milwaukee.


"It was a game that was well played," Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa said. "There was good pitching and good defense, the onlydifference was that their center fielder (Jones) had a big hit.His big hit was bigger than our big hit."


Jones' blast - his fifth of the season - helped continue his hothitting. He went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI inChicago's 12-4 victory over Cincinnati on Thursday. During hisseason-high nine-game hitting streak, Jones is 19-for-39 withthree homers and 13 RBIs.


"When I hit the home run, I felt good for the guys and theteam," Jones said. "We are getting down to the nitty grittynow. Anytime we can do something positive, it's good."

Jones' glove also played a part in this one.


With Yadier Molina on first in the fifth, Brendan Ryan launcheda fly ball to center field that seemed destined for extra bases.Jones went back to the warning track and robbed Ryan with anover-the-shoulder grab against the ivy that brought a pronouncedcheer from the Wrigley Field faithful.


"The ball was hit good but I got a jump on it," Jones said. "Myonly concern was hitting the wall. I went full out, when I hitthe little strip of grass behind the track, I knew it would beclose."


Also producing cheers was Chicago starter Rich Hill (7-7), whoallowed one run and three hits while striking out seven.

"It was a good-pitched game on both sides," Cubs manager LouPiniella said. "Hill did a nice job, we were fortunate to comeout on top."


His one mistake resulted in a solo blast in the sixth inning byAlbert Pujols, his 26th homer of the season.


"That is what it's all about: great pitching. There were acouple of mistakes on both sides," Pujols said. "I had a greatchance to tie the game in the eighth inning, I just got underthe ball a little bit."


Bobby Howry pitched the eighth and Ryan Dempster retired theside in the ninth for his 18th save of the season.

"It's nice to win the opening game of a series," Howry said."It's been a while since we have been able to do that. It setsthe tone for the next three games."


Braden Looper (10-10) was the hard-luck loser after allowingjust two runs and four hits in six innings. Entering Friday'sgame, the righthander had won both starts against Chicago thisseason, limiting the Cubs to a .196 batting average.

"I felt like I was in control of the game," Looper said. "I justmade a bad pitch at a bad time. You have to tip your cap toJacque. It was the only pitch I gave him to hit all day."