NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - PITCHING CHANGE ATL: RON MAHAY (1-0, 2.19) STARTING THE 9TH CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 7, ST LOUIS 2 DUE UP FOR STLOUIS: J EDMONDS (.253, 0-FOR-3)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: R Mahay relieved J Smoltz. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 7 ST LOUIS 2 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: J Edmonds (.253, 0-FOR-3)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - PITCHING CHANGE ATL: PETER MOYLAN (4-3, 2.05) IN THE 9TH SITUATION: NO RUNS IN, S ROLEN ON FIRST, 2 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 7, ST LOUIS 2 DUE UP FOR STLOUIS: Y MOLINA (.279, 0-FOR-3)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: P Moylan relieved R Mahay. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, S ROLEN ON FIRST, 2 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 7 ST LOUIS 2 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: Y Molina (.279, 0-FOR-3)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ATLANTA 0 0 2 5 0 0 0 0 0 7 9 0 ST LOUIS 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 4 (FINAL) BATTERIES: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ, RON MAHAY (9TH), PETER MOYLAN (9TH) AND BRIAN MCCANN STL - KIP WELLS, TODD WELLEMEYER (5TH), TROY PERCIVAL (6TH), TYLER JOHNSON (8TH), RUSS SPRINGER (9TH) AND YADIER MOLINA HOME RUNS: ATL - NONE STL - NONE</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ATLANTA 0 0 2 5 0 0 0 0 0 7 9 0 ST LOUIS 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 4 (FINAL) BATTERIES: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ, RON MAHAY (9TH), PETER MOYLAN (9TH) AND BRIAN MCCANN STL - KIP WELLS, TODD WELLEMEYER (5TH), TROY PERCIVAL (6TH), TYLER JOHNSON (8TH), RUSS SPRINGER (9TH) AND YADIER MOLINA WP - JOHN SMOLTZ (12-6) LP - KIP WELLS (6-14) SAVE - NONE HOME RUNS: ATL - NONE STL - NONE TIME: 2:53 ATT: 44,032 PROBABLES: ATL - TIM HUDSON (15-5, 3.07) STL - JOEL PINEIRO (3-1, 3.38)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">ATLANTA (7) VS ST LOUIS (2) - FINAL ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 4 1 1 0 2 0 4 .307 K Johnson 2b 5 2 1 0 0 1 2 .293 C Jones 3b 5 1 1 2 0 2 2 .335 M Teixeira 1b 4 2 1 1 1 0 1 .294 B McCann c 5 0 2 2 0 0 0 .276 J Francoeur rf 5 0 1 0 0 1 4 .298 A Jones cf 4 0 1 1 1 0 2 .219 Y Escobar ss 3 1 1 0 2 0 1 .320 J Smoltz p 3 0 0 0 0 2 5 .095 a-S Thorman ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .216 R Mahay p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 P Moylan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 39 7 9 6 6 6 21 a-grounded to first for J Smoltz in the 9th. BATTING: 2B - K Johnson (24, K Wells); B McCann (33, K Wells); C Jones (34, K Wells); A Jones (23, K Wells); J Francoeur (33, T Percival). 3B - W Harris (8, K Wells). S - J Smoltz. RBI - B McCann 2 (76), C Jones 2 (75), M Teixeira (29), A Jones (83). 2-out RBI - A Jones. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - W Harris 3, K Johnson 1, J Smoltz 2, A Jones 2, J Francoeur 1. Team LOB - 12. ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 .296 T Percival p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 T Johnson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 b-R Ankiel ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .282 R Springer p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 C Duncan lf 4 0 1 2 0 2 2 .269 A Pujols 1b 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .317 J Edmonds cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252 J Encarnacion rf 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 .283 S Rolen 3b 3 0 1 0 1 1 0 .268 Y Molina c 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .278 K Wells p 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .333 T Wellemeyer p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .100 a-A Miles ph-2b 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .294 B Ryan 2b-ss 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .333 Totals 33 2 6 2 1 7 9 a-grounded to shortstop for T Wellemeyer in the 5th; b-singled to right for T Johnson in the 8th. BATTING: 2B - C Duncan (19, J Smoltz). RBI - C Duncan 2 (62). 2-out RBI - C Duncan 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Pujols 2. Team LOB - 5. FIELDING: E - S Rolen 2 (9, ground ball 2); D Eckstein (15, catch); B Ryan (5, pop up). PB - Y Molina. ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA - 002 500 000 -- 7 ST LOUIS - 002 000 000 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Smoltz (W, 12-6) 8 6 2 2 0 6 0 3.01 R Mahay 2/3 0 0 0 1 1 0 2.08 P Moylan 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.04 ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era K Wells (L, 6-14) 4 8 7 5 5 3 0 5.41 T Wellemeyer 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.09 T Percival 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 2.49 T Johnson 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.34 R Springer 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.74 WP - K Wells, R Springer. IBB - Y Escobar (by K Wells). Pitches-strikes: J Smoltz 103-72; R Mahay 12-6; P Moylan 1-1; K Wells 94-54; T Wellemeyer 7-7; T Percival 37-22; T Johnson 15-9; R Springer 21-15. Ground balls-fly balls: J Smoltz 6-12; R Mahay 1-0; P Moylan 1-0; K Wells 7-3; T Wellemeyer 0-2; T Percival 1-4; T Johnson 1-1; R Springer 2-1. Batters faced: J Smoltz 30; R Mahay 3; P Moylan 1; K Wells 27; T Wellemeyer 3; T Percival 8; T Johnson 4; R Springer 4. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Lance Barksdale. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Tim Welke. T--2:53. (Plus rain delay totaling 65 minutes in the 1st). Att--44,032. Weather: 73 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 6 mph, out to center.</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ATLANTA (7) AT ST LOUIS (2) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ATLANTA 3RD: K Johnson doubled to deep right center. C Jones flied out to center. M Teixeira walked. K Johnson to third, M Teixeira to second on wild pitch by K Wells. B McCann doubled to deep right, K Johnson and M Teixeira scored. J Francoeur flied out to left. A Jones grounded out to pitcher. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 2, ST LOUIS 0. ST LOUIS 3RD: Y Molina flied out to right. K Wells singled to right. B Ryan flied out to left. D Eckstein singled to right, K Wells to second. C Duncan doubled to deep right, K Wells and D Eckstein scored. A Pujols popped out to shortstop. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 2, ST LOUIS 2. ATLANTA 4TH: Y Escobar singled to center. J Smoltz sacrificed to catcher, Y Escobar to second. W Harris walked. K Johnson grounded into fielder's choice to second, Y Escobar scored, W Harris safe at second on error by shortstop D Eckstein. C Jones doubled to deep right center, W Harris and K Johnson scored. M Teixeira singled to right, C Jones scored. B McCann reached on infield single to third, M Teixeira to second. J Francoeur struck out swinging. A Jones doubled to left, M Teixeira scored, B McCann to third. Y Escobar intentionally walked. J Smoltz struck out looking. (5 Runs, 5 Hits, 1 Error) ATLANTA 7, ST LOUIS 2.</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ATLANTA (7) AT ST LOUIS (2) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Atlanta Starting Lineups -- W Harris LF, K Johnson 2B, C Jones 3B, M Teixeira 1B, B McCann C, J Francoeur RF, A Jones CF, Y Escobar SS, J Smoltz RHP. St Louis Starting Lineups -- D Eckstein SS, C Duncan LF, A Pujols 1B, J Edmonds CF, J Encarnacion RF, S Rolen 3B, Y Molina C, B Ryan 2B, K Wells RHP. Umpires -- Gary Cederstrom (HP), Lance Barksdale (1B), Jim Reynolds (2B), Tim Welke (3B). Gametime Weather: 73 degrees, Cloudy, wind out to center at 6 mph. ATLANTA 1ST: W Harris tripled to deep right center. K Johnson struck out looking. C Jones grounded into fielder's choice to first, W Harris out at home. M Teixeira flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 0, ST LOUIS 0. ST LOUIS 1ST: D Eckstein grounded out to pitcher. C Duncan struck out swinging. A Pujols grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 0, ST LOUIS 0. ATLANTA 2ND: B McCann grounded out to second. J Francoeur grounded out to shortstop. A Jones walked. Y Escobar walked, A Jones to second. J Smoltz safe at first on error by third baseman S Rolen, A Jones to third, Y Escobar to second. W Harris grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) ATLANTA 0, ST LOUIS 0. ST LOUIS 2ND: J Edmonds flied out to left. J Encarnacion struck out swinging. S Rolen struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 0, ST LOUIS 0. ATLANTA 3RD: K Johnson doubled to deep right center. C Jones flied out to center. M Teixeira walked. K Johnson to third, M Teixeira to second on wild pitch by K Wells. B McCann doubled to deep right, K Johnson and M Teixeira scored. J Francoeur flied out to left. A Jones grounded out to pitcher. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 2, ST LOUIS 0. ST LOUIS 3RD: Y Molina flied out to right. K Wells singled to right. B Ryan flied out to left. D Eckstein singled to right, K Wells to second. C Duncan doubled to deep right, K Wells and D Eckstein scored. A Pujols popped out to shortstop. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 2, ST LOUIS 2. ATLANTA 4TH: Y Escobar singled to center. J Smoltz sacrificed to catcher, Y Escobar to second. W Harris walked. K Johnson grounded into fielder's choice to second, Y Escobar scored, W Harris safe at second on error by shortstop D Eckstein. C Jones doubled to deep right center, W Harris and K Johnson scored. M Teixeira singled to right, C Jones scored. B McCann reached on infield single to third, M Teixeira to second. J Francoeur struck out swinging. A Jones doubled to left, M Teixeira scored, B McCann to third. Y Escobar intentionally walked. J Smoltz struck out looking. (5 Runs, 5 Hits, 1 Error) ATLANTA 7, ST LOUIS 2. ST LOUIS 4TH: J Edmonds flied out to left. J Encarnacion popped out to second. S Rolen singled to center. Y Molina flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 7, ST LOUIS 2. ATLANTA 5TH: T Wellemeyer relieved K Wells. W Harris flied out to left. K Johnson flied out to left. C Jones struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 7, ST LOUIS 2. ST LOUIS 5TH: A Miles hit for T Wellemeyer. A Miles grounded out to shortstop. B Ryan struck out swinging. D Eckstein grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 7, ST LOUIS 2. ATLANTA 6TH: T Percival relieved T Wellemeyer. A Miles at second base. B Ryan at shortstop. M Teixeira flied out to right. B McCann flied out to center. J Francoeur doubled to shallow left. A Jones flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 7, ST LOUIS 2. ST LOUIS 6TH: C Duncan flied out to left. A Pujols struck out swinging. J Edmonds grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 7, ST LOUIS 2. ATLANTA 7TH: Y Escobar fouled out to first. J Smoltz struck out looking. W Harris walked. W Harris to second on passed ball by Y Molina. K Johnson grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 7, ST LOUIS 2. ST LOUIS 7TH: J Encarnacion flied out to right. S Rolen fouled out to first. Y Molina flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 7, ST LOUIS 2. ATLANTA 8TH: T Johnson relieved T Percival. C Jones struck out swinging. M Teixeira flied out to right. B McCann safe at second on error by shortstop B Ryan. J Francoeur grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) ATLANTA 7, ST LOUIS 2. ST LOUIS 8TH: A Miles singled to center. B Ryan lined out to center. R Ankiel hit for T Johnson. R Ankiel singled to right, A Miles to third. C Duncan struck out looking. A Pujols grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 7, ST LOUIS 2. ATLANTA 9TH: R Springer relieved T Johnson. A Jones safe at first on error by third baseman S Rolen. A Jones to second on wild pitch by R Springer. Y Escobar flied out to left. S Thorman hit for J Smoltz. S Thorman grounded out to first, A Jones to third. W Harris grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) ATLANTA 7, ST LOUIS 2. ST LOUIS 9TH: R Mahay relieved J Smoltz. J Edmonds grounded out to second. J Encarnacion struck out swinging. S Rolen walked. P Moylan relieved R Mahay. Y Molina grounded into fielder's choice to second, S Rolen out at second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 7, ST LOUIS 2.</div>
Five-run rally lifts Smoltz, Braves past Cardinals <h3>ATLANTA 7, ST LOUIS 2</h3>ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- John Smoltz pitched eight strong innings,getting all the support he need during a five-run fourth inning,as the Atlanta Braves beat the Cardinals, 7-2, on Friday nightto snap a three-game losing streak. Smoltz (12-6) surrendered six hits and allowed two runs whilestriking out six as the Braves moved into a tie for second placein the National League wild card race with the PhiladelphiaPhillies (66-61), three games back of the San Diego Padres(69-58). The Braves (67-62) remained six games back of the New York Metsin the NL East. Cardinals starter Kip Wells (6-14) lasted only four innings,allowing seven runs - five earned - on eight hits. Therighthander struggled with his control, walking five whilestriking out three. The five-run rally began with some shoddy defense by St. Louis,which committed four errors for the second straight game. Atlanta put runners on first and second with one out when KellyJohnson hit a ground ball to rookie second baseman Brendan Ryan,who made a terrific throw to shortstop David Eckstein to starta double play. Eckstein, though, dropped the ball, allowingYunel Escobar to score from second and the inning to continue. Chipper Jones made the Cardinals pay, following with a two-rundouble to right-center. Two batters later, Andruw Jones cappedoff the inning with an RBI double down the left field line tomake it 7-2. Smoltz retired 10 batters in a row from the fourth through theseventh inning. The Cardinals' only runs came on a two-rundouble by Chris Duncan in the third inning. The Braves took a 2-0 lead in the third. Johnson doubled tolead off the inning and Mark Teixeira followed with a walk.Both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch by Wells beforecrossing the plate on Brian McCann's two-run double.
Five-run rally lifts Smoltz, Braves past Cardinals <h3>ATLANTA 7, ST LOUIS 2</h3>ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- John Smoltz pitched eight strong innings,getting all the support he need during a five-run fourth inning,as the Atlanta Braves beat the Cardinals, 7-2, on Friday nightto snap a three-game losing streak. Smoltz (12-6) surrendered six hits and allowed two runs whilestriking out six as the Braves moved into a tie for second placein the National League wild card race with the PhiladelphiaPhillies (66-61), three games back of the San Diego Padres(69-58). "We made some great defensive plays and scored some runs,"Smoltz said. "That was a big one. I've struggled with theseguys. I changed it up on them, I felt. And of course, tryingto keep the ball in the yard, that's the key with (Cardinalsslugger Albert) Pujols." The Braves (67-62) remained six games back of the New York Metsin the NL East. Cardinals starter Kip Wells (6-14) lasted only four innings,allowing seven runs - five earned - on eight hits. Therighthander struggled with his control, walking five whilestriking out three. "I was just trying to make one pitch at a time," Wells said. "Iwas having to work hard. Obviously throwing 100 pitches infour innings is a pretty taxing assignment. But I made a lot ofpitches that were just off the corner. I was just being toofine with stuff." The five-run rally began with some shoddy defense by St. Louis,which committed four errors for the second straight game. "I know we're a good defensive club," Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa said. "It made for a tougher night than it had to be.You know, we haven't pitched well either. We needed to generatetougher at-bats than we did. We had a poor night." Atlanta put runners on first and second with one out when KellyJohnson hit a ground ball to rookie second baseman Brendan Ryan,who made a terrific throw to shortstop David Eckstein to starta double play. Eckstein, though, dropped the ball, allowingYunel Escobar to score from second and the inning to continue. "It was good to put all of it together," Johnson said. "We cameout and got big runs in an inning and shut them down for therest of the game. That's kind of a change of pace from what'sbeen going on." Chipper Jones made the Cardinals pay, following with a two-rundouble to right-center. Two batters later, Andruw Jones cappedoff the inning with an RBI double down the left field line tomake it 7-2. Smoltz retired 10 batters in a row from the fourth through theseventh inning. The Cardinals' only runs came on a two-rundouble by Chris Duncan in the third inning. "He pitched a super ballgame," Braves manager Bobby Cox said."He was dynamite. He was dominating, I thought. And the batscame alive once again. And we played well defensively." The Braves took a 2-0 lead in the third. Johnson doubled tolead off the inning and Mark Teixeira followed with a walk. Bothrunners moved up a base on a wild pitch by Wells beforecrossing the plate on Brian McCann's two-run double.
