NL: ATLANTA (66-62) at ST LOUIS (61-63) <h3>Braves, Cardinals fight to stay in playoff races</h3> <div class="pre">Atlanta (66-62) at St Louis (61-63) 8:10 pm EDT</div> ST. LOUIS (Ticker) - If the Atlanta Braves were in the NationalLeague Central, they would be tied for first place right now.If the St. Louis Cardinals were in the NL East, they would benine games back. Instead, both teams will be fighting to stay in their respectivedivision races when the Braves visit the Cardinals for theopener of a three-game series on Friday. Atlanta has lost three games in a row to fall six games behindthe New York Mets (71-55) in the East. It lost a 9-7heartbreaker in 12 innings at Cincinnati on Thursday despitesluggers Chipper Jones and Mark Teixeira combining for sevenRBI. St. Louis saw its three game winning streak snapped in an 11-3loss to the Florida Marlins on Thursday. The Cardinals are nowthree games behind the Chicago Cubs (65-61) in the Central. St. Louis will send the resurgent Kip Wells (6-13, 5.24 ERA) tothe mound. Since July 18, the righthander is 3-1 with a 2.79ERA in six starts. He is 1-2 with a 2.43 ERA in six career starts against theBraves. Atlanta will counter with ace John Smoltz (11-6, 3.05). Theveteran righthander is coming off a win over the Diamondbacks inwhich he lasted eight innings, allowing two runs and five hitswhile striking out 12.
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">ATLANTA AT ST LOUIS -- LINEUPS ATLANTA ST LOUIS AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Willie Harris LF .308 1 25 David Eckstein SS .295 2 24 Kelly Johnson 2B .294 13 61 Chris Duncan LF .269 20 60 Chipper Jones 3B .337 21 73 Albert Pujols 1B .320 30 83 Mark Teixeira 1B .296 10 28 Jim Edmonds CF .255 9 36 Brian Mccann C .274 15 74 Juan Encarnacion RF .287 8 46 Jeff Francoeur RF .299 16 81 Scott Rolen 3B .268 8 56 Andruw Jones CF .219 24 82 Yadier Molina C .282 4 29 Yunel Escobar SS .320 2 23 Kip Wells RHP .318 1 5 John Smoltz RHP .103 0 2 (6-13, 5.24) (11-6, 3.05) Brendan Ryan 2B .344 4 10</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS NOTE: THE START OF THE GAME IS BEING DELAYED DUE TO RAIN.</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS WARMUPS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ (11-6, 3.05) STL - KIP WELLS (6-13, 5.24) UMPIRES: HP - GARY CEDERSTROM 1B - LANCE BARKSDALE 2B - JIM REYNOLDS 3B - TIM WELKE WEATHER: 76 Degrees, cloudy WIND: 8 mph, out to right</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS NOTE: THE GAME IS UNDERWAY AFTER A 1 HOUR AND 5 MINUTE DELAY.</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS STARTING BATS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ AND BRIAN MCCANN STL - KIP WELLS AND YADIER MOLINA DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: W HARRIS (.308, 1 HR, 25 RBI) K JOHNSON (.294, 13 HR, 61 RBI) C JONES (.337, 21 HR, 73 RBI)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ATLANTA 0 0 1 0 ST LOUIS 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ STL - KIP WELLS DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: D ECKSTEIN (.295, 2 HR, 24 RBI) C DUNCAN (.269, 20 HR, 60 RBI) A PUJOLS (.320, 30 HR, 83 RBI)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">ATLANTA (0) VS ST LOUIS (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311 K Johnson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .293 C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .336 M Teixeira 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .293 B McCann c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274 J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299 A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219 Y Escobar ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .320 J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .103 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 3 BATTING: 3B - W Harris (8, K Wells). Team LOB - 1. ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 C Duncan lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 A Pujols 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .320 J Edmonds cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255 J Encarnacion rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 S Rolen 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268 Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 K Wells p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318 B Ryan 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .344 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA - 0 -- 0 ST LOUIS - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Smoltz 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.05 ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era K Wells 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 5.20 Pitches-strikes: K Wells 14-9. Ground balls-fly balls: K Wells 1-1. Batters faced: K Wells 4. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Lance Barksdale. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Tim Welke. (Plus rain delay totaling 65 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 73 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 6 mph, out to center.</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS CONFIRMED STARTERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ STL - KIP WELLS</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ATLANTA 0 0 1 0 ST LOUIS 0 0 0 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ STL - KIP WELLS DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: B MCCANN (.274, 15 HR, 74 RBI) J FRANCOEUR (.299, 16 HR, 81 RBI) A JONES (.219, 24 HR, 82 RBI)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">ATLANTA (0) VS ST LOUIS (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311 K Johnson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .293 C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .336 M Teixeira 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .293 B McCann c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274 J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299 A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219 Y Escobar ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .320 J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .103 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 3 BATTING: 3B - W Harris (8, K Wells). Team LOB - 1. ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 C Duncan lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .268 A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .319 J Edmonds cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255 J Encarnacion rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 S Rolen 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268 Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 K Wells p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318 B Ryan 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .344 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA - 0 -- 0 ST LOUIS - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Smoltz 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.03 ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era K Wells 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 5.20 Pitches-strikes: J Smoltz 14-10; K Wells 14-9. Ground balls-fly balls: J Smoltz 2-0; K Wells 1-1. Batters faced: J Smoltz 3; K Wells 4. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Lance Barksdale. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Tim Welke. (Plus rain delay totaling 65 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 73 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 6 mph, out to center.</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ATLANTA 0 0 0 1 0 ST LOUIS 0 0 0 1 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ STL - KIP WELLS DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: J EDMONDS (.255, 9 HR, 36 RBI) J ENCARNACION (.287, 8 HR, 46 RBI) S ROLEN (.268, 8 HR, 56 RBI)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">ATLANTA (0) VS ST LOUIS (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 2 0 1 0 0 0 3 .310 K Johnson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .293 C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .336 M Teixeira 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .293 B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299 A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .219 Y Escobar ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .320 J Smoltz p 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .100 Totals 8 0 1 0 2 1 8 BATTING: 3B - W Harris (8, K Wells). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - W Harris 2. Team LOB - 4. ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 C Duncan lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .268 A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .319 J Edmonds cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255 J Encarnacion rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 S Rolen 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268 Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 K Wells p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318 B Ryan 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .344 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: E - S Rolen (8, ground ball). ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA - 00 -- 0 ST LOUIS - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Smoltz 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.03 ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era K Wells 2 1 0 0 2 1 0 5.16 Pitches-strikes: J Smoltz 14-10; K Wells 39-23. Ground balls-fly balls: J Smoltz 2-0; K Wells 4-1. Batters faced: J Smoltz 3; K Wells 10. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Lance Barksdale. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Tim Welke. (Plus rain delay totaling 65 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 73 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 6 mph, out to center.</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ATLANTA 0 0 0 1 0 ST LOUIS 0 0 0 0 1 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ STL - KIP WELLS DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: K JOHNSON (.293, 0-FOR-1) C JONES (.336, 0-FOR-1) M TEIXEIRA (.293, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">ATLANTA (0) VS ST LOUIS (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 2 0 1 0 0 0 3 .310 K Johnson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .293 C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .336 M Teixeira 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .293 B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299 A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .219 Y Escobar ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .320 J Smoltz p 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .100 Totals 8 0 1 0 2 1 8 BATTING: 3B - W Harris (8, K Wells). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - W Harris 2. Team LOB - 4. ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 C Duncan lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .268 A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .319 J Edmonds cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254 J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .286 S Rolen 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .267 Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 K Wells p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318 B Ryan 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .344 Totals 6 0 0 0 0 3 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: E - S Rolen (8, ground ball). ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA - 00 -- 0 ST LOUIS - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Smoltz 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 3.01 ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era K Wells 2 1 0 0 2 1 0 5.16 Pitches-strikes: J Smoltz 30-21; K Wells 39-23. Ground balls-fly balls: J Smoltz 2-1; K Wells 4-1. Batters faced: J Smoltz 6; K Wells 10. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Lance Barksdale. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Tim Welke. (Plus rain delay totaling 65 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 73 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 6 mph, out to center.</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - SCORING UPDATE DOUBLE BY BRIAN MCCANN SCORED KELLY JOHNSON AND MARK TEIXEIRA. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, B MCCANN ON SECOND, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 2 ST LOUIS 0 TOP, 3RD DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: J FRANCOEUR (.299, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ATLANTA 0 0 2 2 3 0 ST LOUIS 0 0 0 0 1 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ STL - KIP WELLS DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: Y MOLINA (.282, 4 HR, 29 RBI) K WELLS (.318, 1 HR, 5 RBI) B RYAN (.344, 4 HR, 10 RBI)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">ATLANTA (2) VS ST LOUIS (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 2 0 1 0 0 0 3 .310 K Johnson 2b 2 1 1 0 0 1 1 .295 C Jones 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .335 M Teixeira 1b 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 .293 B McCann c 2 0 1 2 0 0 0 .275 J Francoeur rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .298 A Jones cf 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 .218 Y Escobar ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .320 J Smoltz p 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .100 Totals 13 2 3 2 3 1 11 BATTING: 2B - K Johnson (24, K Wells); B McCann (33, K Wells). 3B - W Harris (8, K Wells). RBI - B McCann 2 (76). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - W Harris 2, A Jones 1. Team LOB - 5. ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 C Duncan lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .268 A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .319 J Edmonds cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254 J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .286 S Rolen 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .267 Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 K Wells p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318 B Ryan 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .344 Totals 6 0 0 0 0 3 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: E - S Rolen (8, ground ball). ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA - 002 -- 2 ST LOUIS - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Smoltz 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 3.01 ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era K Wells 3 3 2 2 3 1 0 5.25 WP - K Wells. Pitches-strikes: J Smoltz 30-21; K Wells 56-33. Ground balls-fly balls: J Smoltz 2-1; K Wells 5-3. Batters faced: J Smoltz 6; K Wells 16. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Lance Barksdale. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Tim Welke. (Plus rain delay totaling 65 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 73 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 6 mph, out to center.</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - SCORING UPDATE DOUBLE BY CHRIS DUNCAN SCORED KIP WELLS AND DAVID ECKSTEIN. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, C DUNCAN ON SECOND, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 2 ST LOUIS 2 BOTTOM, 3RD DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A PUJOLS (.319, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ATLANTA 0 0 2 2 3 0 ST LOUIS 0 0 2 2 3 1 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ STL - KIP WELLS DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: Y ESCOBAR (.320, 0-FOR-0, BB) J SMOLTZ (.100, 0-FOR-1) W HARRIS (.310, 1-FOR-2)</div>
