NL: ATLANTA (67-62) at ST LOUIS (61-64) <h3>Braves look to narrow playoff gap against Cardinals</h3> Atlanta (67-62) at St Louis (61-64), 7:15 pm EDT ST. LOUIS (Ticker) - The Atlanta Braves will look to narrowtheir deficit in the National League playoff race on Saturdaywhen they take on the St. Louis Cardinals in Game Two of thethree-game set. The Braves took the first game of the series on Friday, 7-2, asJohn Smoltz pitched eight innings, allowing just the two runs onsix hits while striking out six. With the win, Atlanta is tiedwith the Philadelphia Phillies (66-61) for second place in boththe National League East and wild card race. Atlanta in second place in the NL East, six games behind the NewYork Mets, who beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-2, on Friday. The Braves are also three games behind the wild-card leading SanDiego Padres (69-58), routed the Phillies, 14-3, on Friday. Tim Hudson (15-5, 3.07 ERA) will look for his 10th straight winwhen he takes the mound for the Braves. A win would also tiehim with Josh Beckett of the Boston Red Sox for the major leaguelead in wins. During his current win steak, Hudson hasn't allowed more thanthree runs in any of his starts - including his last outing whenhe allowed three runs on seven hits with four strikeouts asAtlanta pounded the Cincinnati Reds, 14-4, on Monday. Joel Pineiro (3-1, 3.38) will look to continue his own winstreak when he toes the rubber for the Cardinals. Pineiro haswon his last three starts, allowing just five runs in 19 inningsover that span. His last loss came on August 4 in his firststart after being traded to St. Louis from the Red Sox. Therighthander allowed five runs - four earned - on seven hits, asthe Cardinals suffered a 12-1 setback to the WashingtonNationals.
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 .307 1 25 David Eckstein SS .296 2 24 Kelly Johnson 2B .293 13 61 Rick Ankiel RF .282 4 8 Chipper Jones 3B .335 21 75 Albert Pujols 1B .317 30 83 Mark Teixeira 1B .294 10 29 Jim Edmonds CF .252 9 36 Brian Mccann C .276 15 76 Chris Duncan LF .269 20 62 Jeff Francoeur RF .298 16 81 Scott Rolen 3B .268 8 56 Andruw Jones CF .219 24 83 Yadier Molina C .278 4 29 Yunel Escobar SS .320 2 23 Joel Pineiro RHP .000 0 0 Tim Hudson RHP .226 0 7 (3-1, 3.38) (15-5, 3.07) Aaron Miles 2B .294 1 23</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS WARMUPS: ATL - TIM HUDSON (15-5, 3.07) STL - JOEL PINEIRO (3-1, 3.38) UMPIRES: HP - LANCE BARKSDALE 1B - JIM REYNOLDS 2B - TIM WELKE 3B - GARY CEDERSTROM WEATHER: 83 Degrees, partly cloudy WIND: 8 mph, in from center</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS STARTING BATS: ATL - TIM HUDSON AND BRIAN MCCANN STL - JOEL PINEIRO AND YADIER MOLINA DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: W HARRIS (.307, 1 HR, 25 RBI) K JOHNSON (.293, 13 HR, 61 RBI) C JONES (.335, 21 HR, 75 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 0 0 ST LOUIS 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - TIM HUDSON STL - JOEL PINEIRO DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: D ECKSTEIN (.296, 2 HR, 24 RBI) R ANKIEL (.282, 4 HR, 8 RBI) A PUJOLS (.317, 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 0 0 0 1 0 .306 K Johnson 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .293 C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .334 M Teixeira 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .291 B McCann c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276 J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298 A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219 Y Escobar ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .320 T Hudson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226 Totals 3 0 0 0 1 2 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 R Ankiel rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 A Pujols 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317 J Edmonds cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252 C Duncan lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 S Rolen 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268 Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 J Pineiro p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 A Miles 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 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 T Hudson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.07 ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era J Pineiro 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 3.24 Pitches-strikes: J Pineiro 22-13. Ground balls-fly balls: J Pineiro 1-0. Batters faced: J Pineiro 4. UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Jim Reynolds. 2B--Tim Welke. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. Weather: 83 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, in from center.</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS CONFIRMED STARTERS: ATL - TIM HUDSON STL - JOEL PINEIRO</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 0 ST LOUIS 0 0 2 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - TIM HUDSON STL - JOEL PINEIRO DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: B MCCANN (.276, 15 HR, 76 RBI) J FRANCOEUR (.298, 16 HR, 81 RBI) A JONES (.219, 24 HR, 83 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 0 0 0 1 0 .306 K Johnson 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .293 C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .334 M Teixeira 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .291 B McCann c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276 J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298 A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219 Y Escobar ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .320 T Hudson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226 Totals 3 0 0 0 1 2 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 R Ankiel rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275 A Pujols 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .319 J Edmonds cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .254 C Duncan lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .268 S Rolen 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268 Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 J Pineiro p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 A Miles 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 Totals 5 0 2 0 0 0 2 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Duncan 1. Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA - 0 -- 0 ST LOUIS - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era T Hudson 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 3.06 ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era J Pineiro 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 3.24 Pitches-strikes: T Hudson 12-11; J Pineiro 22-13. Ground balls-fly balls: T Hudson 2-1; J Pineiro 1-0. Batters faced: T Hudson 5; J Pineiro 4. UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Jim Reynolds. 2B--Tim Welke. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. Weather: 83 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, in from center.</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY TIM HUDSON SCORED ANDRUW JONES. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, T HUDSON ON FIRST, Y ESCOBAR ON SECOND, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 1 ST LOUIS 0 TOP, 2ND DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: W HARRIS (.306, 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 1 1 3 0 ST LOUIS 0 0 2 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - TIM HUDSON STL - JOEL PINEIRO DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: S ROLEN (.268, 8 HR, 56 RBI) Y MOLINA (.278, 4 HR, 29 RBI) J PINEIRO (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">ATLANTA (1) VS ST LOUIS (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .305 K Johnson 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .293 C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .334 M Teixeira 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .291 B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275 J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .298 A Jones cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .221 Y Escobar ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .323 T Hudson p 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .238 Totals 9 1 3 1 1 3 4 BATTING: RBI - T Hudson (8). 2-out RBI - T Hudson. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - W Harris 1. Team LOB - 3. ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 R Ankiel rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275 A Pujols 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .319 J Edmonds cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .254 C Duncan lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .268 S Rolen 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268 Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 J Pineiro p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 A Miles 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 Totals 5 0 2 0 0 0 2 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Duncan 1. Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA - 01 -- 1 ST LOUIS - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era T Hudson 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 3.06 ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era J Pineiro 2 3 1 1 1 3 0 3.46 Pitches-strikes: T Hudson 12-11; J Pineiro 51-31. Ground balls-fly balls: T Hudson 2-1; J Pineiro 2-1. Batters faced: T Hudson 5; J Pineiro 10. UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Jim Reynolds. 2B--Tim Welke. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. Weather: 83 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, in from 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 1 1 3 0 ST LOUIS 0 0 0 3 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - TIM HUDSON STL - JOEL PINEIRO DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: K JOHNSON (.293, 0-FOR-0, BB) C JONES (.334, 0-FOR-1) M TEIXEIRA (.291, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">ATLANTA (1) VS ST LOUIS (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .305 K Johnson 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .293 C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .334 M Teixeira 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .291 B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275 J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .298 A Jones cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .221 Y Escobar ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .323 T Hudson p 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .238 Totals 9 1 3 1 1 3 4 BATTING: RBI - T Hudson (8). 2-out RBI - T Hudson. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - W Harris 1. Team LOB - 3. ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 R Ankiel rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275 A Pujols 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .319 J Edmonds cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .254 C Duncan lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .268 S Rolen 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268 Y Molina c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280 J Pineiro p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 A Miles 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .293 Totals 8 0 3 0 0 0 3 BATTING: S - J Pineiro. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Miles 1, C Duncan 1. Team LOB - 3. ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA - 01 -- 1 ST LOUIS - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era T Hudson 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 3.04 ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era J Pineiro 2 3 1 1 1 3 0 3.46 Pitches-strikes: T Hudson 25-20; J Pineiro 51-31. Ground balls-fly balls: T Hudson 5-1; J Pineiro 2-1. Batters faced: T Hudson 9; J Pineiro 10. UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Jim Reynolds. 2B--Tim Welke. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. Weather: 83 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, in from center.</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - SCORING UPDATE SOLO HOME RUN BY KELLY JOHNSON (14) TO CENTER WITH 0 OUT IN THE 3RD OFF JOEL PINEIRO. CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 2, ST LOUIS 0 DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: C JONES (.334, 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 1 1 2 4 0 ST LOUIS 0 0 0 3 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - TIM HUDSON STL - JOEL PINEIRO DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: D ECKSTEIN (.295, 0-FOR-1) R ANKIEL (.275, 0-FOR-1) A PUJOLS (.319, 1-FOR-1)</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 0 0 0 1 2 .305 K Johnson 2b 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 .294 C Jones 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .333 M Teixeira 1b 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 .291 B McCann c 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .274 J Francoeur rf 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 .297 A Jones cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .221 Y Escobar ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .323 T Hudson p 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .238 Totals 13 2 4 2 2 4 6 BATTING: HR - K Johnson (14, 3rd inning off J Pineiro 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - T Hudson (8), K Johnson (62). 2-out RBI - T Hudson. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - W Harris 1. Team LOB - 4. ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 R Ankiel rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275 A Pujols 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .319 J Edmonds cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .254 C Duncan lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .268 S Rolen 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268 Y Molina c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280 J Pineiro p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 A Miles 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .293 Totals 8 0 3 0 0 0 3 BATTING: S - J Pineiro. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Miles 1, C Duncan 1. Team LOB - 3. ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA - 011 -- 2 ST LOUIS - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era T Hudson 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 3.04 ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era J Pineiro 3 4 2 2 2 4 1 3.67 Pitches-strikes: T Hudson 25-20; J Pineiro 71-41. Ground balls-fly balls: T Hudson 5-1; J Pineiro 3-2. Batters faced: T Hudson 9; J Pineiro 15. UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Jim Reynolds. 2B--Tim Welke. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. Weather: 83 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, in from 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 1 1 2 4 0 ST LOUIS 0 0 0 0 3 0 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - TIM HUDSON STL - JOEL PINEIRO DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: A JONES (.221, 1-FOR-1) Y ESCOBAR (.323, 1-FOR-1) T HUDSON (.238, 1-FOR-1, RBI)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">ATLANTA (2) VS ST LOUIS (0) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .305 K Johnson 2b 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 .294 C Jones 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .333 M Teixeira 1b 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 .291 B McCann c 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .274 J Francoeur rf 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 .297 A Jones cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .221 Y Escobar ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .323 T Hudson p 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .238 Totals 13 2 4 2 2 4 6 BATTING: HR - K Johnson (14, 3rd inning off J Pineiro 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - T Hudson (8), K Johnson (62). 2-out RBI - T Hudson. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - W Harris 1. Team LOB - 4. ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 R Ankiel rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268 A Pujols 1b 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .318 J Edmonds cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .254 C Duncan lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .268 S Rolen 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268 Y Molina c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280 J Pineiro p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 A Miles 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .293 Totals 11 0 3 0 0 0 3 BATTING: S - J Pineiro. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Miles 1, C Duncan 1. Team LOB - 3. ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA - 011 -- 2 ST LOUIS - 000 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era T Hudson 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 3.02 ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era J Pineiro 3 4 2 2 2 4 1 3.67 Pitches-strikes: T Hudson 33-26; J Pineiro 71-41. Ground balls-fly balls: T Hudson 7-2; J Pineiro 3-2. Batters faced: T Hudson 12; J Pineiro 15. UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Jim Reynolds. 2B--Tim Welke. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. Weather: 83 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, in from center.</div>
NL: ATLANTA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY TIM HUDSON SCORED ANDRUW JONES. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, T HUDSON ON FIRST, Y ESCOBAR ON THIRD, 0 OUT CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 3 ST LOUIS 0 TOP, 4TH DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: W HARRIS (.305, 0-FOR-2)</div>
