GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: FLORIDA (56-70) at ST LOUIS (60-62)

NL: FLORIDA (56-70) at ST LOUIS (60-62)

<h3>Pujols seeks to extend home run streak to five straight</h3>

<div class="pre">Florida (56-70) at St. Louis (60-62) 8:10 pm EDT</div>

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Once again showing some signs of being thereigning World Series champions, the St. Louis Cardinalscontinue their three-game series with the Florida Marlins onWednesday.


The Cardinals, who were 50-58 on August 5 and eight games out offirst place in the National League Central at the time, havewon 10 of their last 14 to pull within two games of .500 for thefirst time since April.


St. Louis, who continued its surge with a 5-2 win in Tuesday'sopener, has moved within three games of co-division leadersChicago (64-60) and Milwaukee (65-61).


A key contributor to that stretch has been Albert Pujols, whohas homered in four consecutive contests - the seventh time inhis career he has accomplished that feat. With another homer onWednesday, he would set a new personal high.


Another important piece to this recent run is former Marlinreliever Braden Looper (10-10, 4.98 ERA). He spent five seasonswith Florida from 1999-2003, saving 65 games during that time.

While he has appeared in relief against Florida 16 times, therighthander won his first career start against the Marlins onJuly 16, yielding two runs and five hits over 6 1/3 innings in a5-3 win.


Looper took the loss against Chicago in his last turn on Friday,yielding two runs and four hits over six frames in a 2-1setback. Overall, he is 3-2 with a 6.23 ERA against Florida.

The Marlins, who have dropped a season-high seven straightgames, will turn to Scott Olsen (9-10, 5.25). He allowed threeruns - two earned - and six hits over seven innings in a 3-0loss vs. the San Francisco Giants on Friday.


The lefthander is 1-1 with a 6.17 ERA in two career startsagainst the Cardinals.

 

NL: FLORIDA at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">FLORIDA AT ST LOUIS -- LINEUPS

FLORIDA ST LOUIS
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Hanley Ramirez SS .335 23 64 David Eckstein SS .293 2 24
Dan Uggla 2B .247 23 70 So Taguchi CF .296 2 19
Miguel Cabrera 3B .330 30 91 Albert Pujols 1B .321 29 81
Josh Willingham LF .272 19 78 Juan Encarnacion RF .287 8 44
Mike Jacobs 1B .261 11 33 Scott Rolen 3B .270 8 56
Miguel Olivo C .239 11 45 Ryan Ludwick LF .248 11 37
Jeremy Hermida RF .272 11 40 Yadier Molina C .278 3 27
Alfredo Amezaga CF .265 2 27 Braden Looper RHP .184 0 5
Scott Olsen LHP .190 0 3 (10-10, 4.98)
(9-10, 5.25) Brendan Ryan 2B .349 4 10</div>

 

NL: FLORIDA at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS
WARMUPS: FLA - SCOTT OLSEN (9-10, 5.25)
STL - BRADEN LOOPER (10-10, 4.98)

UMPIRES: HP - BRIAN RUNGE
1B - MARK WEGNER
2B - MIKE WINTERS
3B - BRUCE FROEMMING

WEATHER: 96 Degrees, partly cloudy
WIND: 6 mph, out to left</div>

 

NL: FLORIDA at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS
STARTING BATS: FLA - SCOTT OLSEN AND MIGUEL OLIVO
STL - BRADEN LOOPER AND YADIER MOLINA

DUE UP FOR FLORIDA: H RAMIREZ (.335, 23 HR, 64 RBI)
D UGGLA (.247, 23 HR, 70 RBI)
M CABRERA (.330, 30 HR, 91 RBI)</div>

 

NL: FLORIDA at ST LOUIS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: FLA - SCOTT OLSEN
STL - BRADEN LOOPER

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: D ECKSTEIN (.293, 2 HR, 24 RBI)
S TAGUCHI (.296, 2 HR, 19 RBI)
A PUJOLS (.321, 29 HR, 81 RBI)</div>

 

NL: FLORIDA at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">FLORIDA (0) VS ST LOUIS (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

FLORIDA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Ramirez ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .335
D Uggla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
M Cabrera 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .330
J Willingham lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
M Jacobs 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
M Olivo c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239
J Hermida rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
A Amezaga cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
S Olsen p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .190

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
S Taguchi cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
A Pujols 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321
J Encarnacion rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
S Rolen 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
R Ludwick lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
B Looper p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .184
B Ryan 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .349

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
FLORIDA - 0 -- 0
ST LOUIS - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

FLORIDA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Olsen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.25

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
B Looper 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.95

Pitches-strikes: B Looper 11-7. Ground balls-fly balls: B Looper 1-2. Batters
faced: B Looper 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Mike Winters. 3B--Bruce
Froemming.

Weather: 94 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, out to left.</div>

 

NL: FLORIDA at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS
CONFIRMED STARTERS: FLA - SCOTT OLSEN
STL - BRADEN LOOPER</div>

 

NL: FLORIDA at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY ALBERT PUJOLS (30) TO LEFT WITH 1 OUT
IN THE 1ST OFF SCOTT OLSEN SCORED SO TAGUCHI.
CURRENT SCORE: FLORIDA 0, ST LOUIS 2

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: J ENCARNACION (.287, 8 HR, 44 RBI)</div>

 

NL: FLORIDA at ST LOUIS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: FLA - SCOTT OLSEN
STL - BRADEN LOOPER

DUE UP FOR FLORIDA: J WILLINGHAM (.272, 19 HR, 78 RBI)
M JACOBS (.261, 11 HR, 33 RBI)
M OLIVO (.239, 11 HR, 45 RBI)</div>

 

NL: FLORIDA at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">FLORIDA (0) VS ST LOUIS (2) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

FLORIDA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Ramirez ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .335
D Uggla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
M Cabrera 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .330
J Willingham lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
M Jacobs 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
M Olivo c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239
J Hermida rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
A Amezaga cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
S Olsen p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .190

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
S Taguchi cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .298
A Pujols 1b 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .322
J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
S Rolen 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
R Ludwick lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
B Looper p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .184
B Ryan 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .349

Totals 5 2 2 2 0 0 0

BATTING: HR - A Pujols (30, 1st inning off S Olsen 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - A Pujols
2 (83). Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
FLORIDA - 0 -- 0
ST LOUIS - 2 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

FLORIDA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Olsen 1 2 2 2 0 0 1 5.34

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
B Looper 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.95

Pitches-strikes: S Olsen 22-13; B Looper 11-7. Ground balls-fly balls: S
Olsen 1-2; B Looper 1-2. Batters faced: S Olsen 5; B Looper 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Mike Winters. 3B--Bruce
Froemming.

Weather: 94 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, out to left.</div>

 

NL: FLORIDA at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY MIGUEL OLIVO (12) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 2
OUT IN THE 2ND OFF BRADEN LOOPER.
CURRENT SCORE: FLORIDA 1, ST LOUIS 2

DUE UP FOR FLORIDA: J HERMIDA (.272, 11 HR, 40 RBI)</div>

 

NL: FLORIDA at ST LOUIS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: FLA - SCOTT OLSEN
STL - BRADEN LOOPER

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: R LUDWICK (.248, 11 HR, 37 RBI)
Y MOLINA (.278, 3 HR, 27 RBI)
B LOOPER (.184, 0 HR, 5 RBI)</div>

 

NL: FLORIDA at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">FLORIDA (1) VS ST LOUIS (2) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

FLORIDA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Ramirez ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .335
D Uggla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
M Cabrera 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .330
J Willingham lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
M Jacobs 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .260
M Olivo c 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .241
J Hermida rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .271
A Amezaga cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
S Olsen p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .190

Totals 7 1 1 1 0 2 0

BATTING: HR - M Olivo (12, 2nd inning off B Looper 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - M Olivo
(46). 2-out RBI - M Olivo. Team LOB - 0.


ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
S Taguchi cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .298
A Pujols 1b 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .322
J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
S Rolen 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
R Ludwick lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
B Looper p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .184
B Ryan 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .349

Totals 5 2 2 2 0 0 0

BATTING: HR - A Pujols (30, 1st inning off S Olsen 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - A Pujols
2 (83). Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
FLORIDA - 01 -- 1
ST LOUIS - 2 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

FLORIDA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Olsen 1 2 2 2 0 0 1 5.34

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
B Looper 2 1 1 1 0 2 1 4.98

Pitches-strikes: S Olsen 22-13; B Looper 26-18. Ground balls-fly balls: S
Olsen 1-2; B Looper 1-3. Batters faced: S Olsen 5; B Looper 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Mike Winters. 3B--Bruce
Froemming.

Weather: 94 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, out to left.</div>

 

NL: FLORIDA at ST LOUIS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: FLA - SCOTT OLSEN
STL - BRADEN LOOPER

DUE UP FOR FLORIDA: A AMEZAGA (.265, 2 HR, 27 RBI)
S OLSEN (.190, 0 HR, 3 RBI)
H RAMIREZ (.335, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: FLORIDA at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">FLORIDA (1) VS ST LOUIS (2) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

FLORIDA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Ramirez ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .335
D Uggla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
M Cabrera 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .330
J Willingham lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
M Jacobs 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .260
M Olivo c 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .241
J Hermida rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .271
A Amezaga cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
S Olsen p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .190

Totals 7 1 1 1 0 2 0

BATTING: HR - M Olivo (12, 2nd inning off B Looper 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - M Olivo
(46). 2-out RBI - M Olivo. Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (H Ramirez-D Uggla-M Jacobs).


ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
S Taguchi cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .298
A Pujols 1b 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .322
J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
S Rolen 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
R Ludwick lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .251
Y Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .277
B Looper p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .179
B Ryan 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .349

Totals 8 2 3 2 0 0 1

BATTING: HR - A Pujols (30, 1st inning off S Olsen 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - A Pujols
2 (83). GIDP - Y Molina. Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
FLORIDA - 01 -- 1
ST LOUIS - 20 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

FLORIDA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Olsen 2 3 2 2 0 0 1 5.30

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
B Looper 2 1 1 1 0 2 1 4.98

Pitches-strikes: S Olsen 33-18; B Looper 26-18. Ground balls-fly balls: S
Olsen 3-3; B Looper 1-3. Batters faced: S Olsen 8; B Looper 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Mike Winters. 3B--Bruce
Froemming.

Weather: 94 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, out to left.</div>

 

NL: FLORIDA at ST LOUIS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: FLA - SCOTT OLSEN
STL - BRADEN LOOPER

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: B RYAN (.349, 4 HR, 10 RBI)
D ECKSTEIN (.292, 0-FOR-1)
S TAGUCHI (.298, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: FLORIDA at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">FLORIDA (1) VS ST LOUIS (2) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

FLORIDA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Ramirez ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .334
D Uggla 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .246
M Cabrera 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .330
J Willingham lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
M Jacobs 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .260
M Olivo c 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .241
J Hermida rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .271
A Amezaga cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
S Olsen p 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .209

Totals 11 1 2 1 0 2 2

BATTING: 2B - S Olsen (3, B Looper). HR - M Olivo (12, 2nd inning off B Looper
0 on, 2 Out). RBI - M Olivo (46). 2-out RBI - M Olivo. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - D Uggla 1. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (H Ramirez-D Uggla-M Jacobs).


ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
S Taguchi cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .298
A Pujols 1b 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .322
J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
S Rolen 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
R Ludwick lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .251
Y Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .277
B Looper p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .179
B Ryan 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .349

Totals 8 2 3 2 0 0 1

BATTING: HR - A Pujols (30, 1st inning off S Olsen 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - A Pujols
2 (83). GIDP - Y Molina. Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
FLORIDA - 010 -- 1
ST LOUIS - 20 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

FLORIDA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Olsen 2 3 2 2 0 0 1 5.30

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
B Looper 3 2 1 1 0 2 1 4.94

Pitches-strikes: S Olsen 33-18; B Looper 44-28. Ground balls-fly balls: S
Olsen 3-3; B Looper 1-6. Batters faced: S Olsen 8; B Looper 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Mike Winters. 3B--Bruce
Froemming.

Weather: 94 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, out to left.</div>

 

NL: FLORIDA at ST LOUIS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: FLA - SCOTT OLSEN
STL - BRADEN LOOPER

DUE UP FOR FLORIDA: M CABRERA (.330, 0-FOR-1)
J WILLINGHAM (.271, 0-FOR-1)
M JACOBS (.260, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: FLORIDA at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">FLORIDA (1) VS ST LOUIS (2) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

FLORIDA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Ramirez ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .334
D Uggla 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .246
M Cabrera 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .330
J Willingham lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
M Jacobs 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .260
M Olivo c 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .241
J Hermida rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .271
A Amezaga cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
S Olsen p 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .209

Totals 11 1 2 1 0 2 2

BATTING: 2B - S Olsen (3, B Looper). HR - M Olivo (12, 2nd inning off B Looper
0 on, 2 Out). RBI - M Olivo (46). 2-out RBI - M Olivo. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - D Uggla 1. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (H Ramirez-D Uggla-M Jacobs).


ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .295
S Taguchi cf 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .297
A Pujols 1b 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .322
J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
S Rolen 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
R Ludwick lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .251
Y Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .277
B Looper p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .179
B Ryan 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .345

Totals 11 2 4 2 0 0 1

BATTING: HR - A Pujols (30, 1st inning off S Olsen 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - A Pujols
2 (83). GIDP - Y Molina. Team LOB - 0.

BASERUNNING: CS - D Eckstein (1, 2nd base by S Olsen/M Olivo).


----------------------------------------------------
FLORIDA - 010 -- 1
ST LOUIS - 200 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

FLORIDA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Olsen 3 4 2 2 0 0 1 5.27

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
B Looper 3 2 1 1 0 2 1 4.94

Pitches-strikes: S Olsen 42-26; B Looper 44-28. Ground balls-fly balls: S
Olsen 5-3; B Looper 1-6. Batters faced: S Olsen 11; B Looper 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Mike Winters. 3B--Bruce
Froemming.

Weather: 94 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, out to left.</div>

 

NL: FLORIDA at ST LOUIS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: FLA - SCOTT OLSEN
STL - BRADEN LOOPER

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A PUJOLS (.322, 1-FOR-1, HR, 2 RBI)
J ENCARNACION (.286, 0-FOR-1)
S ROLEN (.269, 0-FOR-1)</div>