GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: ST LOUIS (64-65) at HOUSTON (59-74)

NL: ST LOUIS (64-65) at HOUSTON (59-74)

<h3>Cardinals turn to Pineiro in rubber match vs. Astros</h3>

<div class="pre">St. Louis (64-65) at Houston (59-74) 2:05 pm EDT</div>

HOUSTON (Ticker) - After running into a buzzsaw known as RoyOswalt on Wednesday, the St. Louis Cardinals look to continuetheir late-season surge as they wrap up their three-game serieswith the Houston Astros on Thursday.


St. Louis missed out on a chance to move within one game of thefirst-place Chicago Cubs (67-64) in the National League Centralon Wednesday as Oswalt blanked them, 7-0.


The setback halted the Cardinals' rapid ascension in thedivision standings, as they have trimmed a nine-game deficitfrom July 27 down to two games by going 18-12 over their last 30contests.


St. Louis on Thursday will turn to Joel Pineiro (3-1, 3.86 ERA),who is unbeaten in his last four starts. Over that stretch, heis 3-0 with a 3.13 ERA.


That span was capped off by his worst start in that time, asPineiro surrendered three runs and seven hits over just fourinnings but did not factor into Saturday's 5-4 win over theAtlanta Braves.


Overall, the righthander is 1-1 with a 2.40 ERA in two careerstarts against the Astros.


Houston will turn to rookie Matt Albers (3-6, 5.71), who looksto repeat the success he enjoyed when he faced St. Louis on May5 - his only career appearance against them. He yielded threehits and walked just one batter in 7 1/3 innings in a 13-0 win.

The righthander did not receive a decision in Friday's 8-3 lossto the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowing two runs - one earned - andsix hits with six strikeouts over seven frames.

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

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

ST LOUIS HOUSTON
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
David Eckstein SS .290 2 24 Hunter Pence CF .323 12 47
So Taguchi CF .294 2 21 Chris Burke 2B .225 4 21
Albert Pujols 1B .321 30 84 Lance Berkman 1B .278 25 84
Juan Encarnacion RF .286 9 47 Carlos Lee LF .306 26 103
Ryan Ludwick LF .249 11 37 Mike Lamb 3B .293 11 38
Yadier Molina C .279 4 30 Luke Scott RF .255 15 57
Aaron Miles 2B .301 1 24 Eric Bruntlett SS .244 0 12
Joel Pineiro RHP .000 0 0 Eric Munson C .257 4 15
(3-1, 3.86) Matt Albers RHP .105 0 0
Brendan Ryan 3B .317 4 10 (3-6, 5.71)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

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

ST LOUIS HOUSTON
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
David Eckstein SS .290 2 24 Hunter Pence CF .323 12 47
Rick Ankiel CF .321 4 10 Chris Burke 2B .225 4 21
Albert Pujols 1B .321 30 84 Lance Berkman 1B .278 25 84
Juan Encarnacion RF .286 9 47 Carlos Lee LF .306 26 103
Ryan Ludwick LF .249 11 37 Mike Lamb 3B .293 11 38
Yadier Molina C .279 4 30 Luke Scott RF .255 15 57
Aaron Miles 2B .301 1 24 Eric Bruntlett SS .244 0 12
Joel Pineiro RHP .000 0 0 Eric Munson C .257 4 15
(3-1, 3.86) Matt Albers RHP .105 0 0
Brendan Ryan 3B .317 4 10 (3-6, 5.71)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
WARMUPS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO (3-1, 3.86)
HOU - MATT ALBERS (3-6, 5.71)

UMPIRES: HP - JIM JOYCE
1B - JIM WOLF
2B - JAMES HOYE
3B - TIM TSCHIDA

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON -- REVISED WARMUPS
WARMUPS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO (3-1, 3.86)
HOU - MATT ALBERS (3-6, 5.71)

UMPIRES: HP - JIM JOYCE
1B - JIM WOLF
2B - JAMES HOYE
3B - TIM TSCHIDA

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
STARTING BATS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO AND YADIER MOLINA
HOU - MATT ALBERS AND ERIC MUNSON

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: D ECKSTEIN (.290, 2 HR, 24 RBI)
R ANKIEL (.321, 4 HR, 10 RBI)
A PUJOLS (.321, 30 HR, 84 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO
HOU - MATT ALBERS

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: H PENCE (.323, 12 HR, 47 RBI)
C BURKE (.225, 4 HR, 21 RBI)
L BERKMAN (.278, 25 HR, 84 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

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

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .292
R Ankiel cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .315
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .321
J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .285
R Ludwick lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
A Miles 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
J Pineiro p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Ryan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Encarnacion 1. Team LOB -
1.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Pence cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .323
C Burke 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225
L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
M Lamb 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
E Bruntlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
M Albers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .105

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 0 -- 0
HOUSTON - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Pineiro 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.86

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Albers 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 5.64

WP - M Albers. Pitches-strikes: M Albers 15-10. Ground balls-fly balls: M
Albers 0-2. Batters faced: M Albers 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Joyce. 1B--Jim Wolf. 2B--James Hoye. 3B--Tim Tschida.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
CONFIRMED STARTERS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO
HOU - MATT ALBERS</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO
HOU - MATT ALBERS

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: R LUDWICK (.249, 11 HR, 37 RBI)
Y MOLINA (.279, 4 HR, 30 RBI)
A MILES (.301, 1 HR, 24 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

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

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .292
R Ankiel cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .315
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .321
J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .285
R Ludwick lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
A Miles 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
J Pineiro p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Ryan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Encarnacion 1. Team LOB -
1.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .322
C Burke 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .229
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .277
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
M Lamb 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
E Bruntlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
M Albers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .105

Totals 3 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

BASERUNNING: CS - C Burke (3, 2nd base by J Pineiro/Y Molina).


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 0 -- 0
HOUSTON - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Pineiro 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.72

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Albers 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 5.64

WP - M Albers. Pitches-strikes: J Pineiro 14-10; M Albers 15-10. Ground
balls-fly balls: J Pineiro 0-1; M Albers 0-2. Batters faced: J Pineiro 3; M
Albers 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Joyce. 1B--Jim Wolf. 2B--James Hoye. 3B--Tim Tschida.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO
HOU - MATT ALBERS

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C LEE (.306, 0-FOR-0)
M LAMB (.293, 11 HR, 38 RBI)
L SCOTT (.255, 15 HR, 57 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .292
R Ankiel cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .315
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .321
J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .285
R Ludwick lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
Y Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
A Miles 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
J Pineiro p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Ryan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 1 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Encarnacion 1. Team LOB -
1.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .322
C Burke 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .229
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .277
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
M Lamb 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
E Bruntlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
M Albers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .105

Totals 3 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

BASERUNNING: CS - C Burke (3, 2nd base by J Pineiro/Y Molina).


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 00 -- 0
HOUSTON - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Pineiro 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.72

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Albers 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 5.57

WP - M Albers. Pitches-strikes: J Pineiro 14-10; M Albers 24-17. Ground
balls-fly balls: J Pineiro 0-1; M Albers 2-3. Batters faced: J Pineiro 3; M
Albers 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Joyce. 1B--Jim Wolf. 2B--James Hoye. 3B--Tim Tschida.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY LUKE SCOTT SCORED MIKE LAMB.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 0
HOUSTON 1 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: E BRUNTLETT (.244, 0 HR, 12 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO
HOU - MATT ALBERS

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: J PINEIRO (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
B RYAN (.317, 4 HR, 10 RBI)
D ECKSTEIN (.292, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

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

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .292
R Ankiel cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .315
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .321
J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .285
R Ludwick lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
Y Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
A Miles 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
J Pineiro p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Ryan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 1 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Encarnacion 1. Team LOB -
1.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .322
C Burke 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .229
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .277
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
M Lamb 3b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .293
L Scott rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .257
E Bruntlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
M Albers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .105

Totals 6 1 2 1 1 1 1

BATTING: 2B - L Scott (25, J Pineiro). RBI - L Scott (58). Team LOB - 0.

BASERUNNING: CS - C Burke (3, 2nd base by J Pineiro/Y Molina).


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 00 -- 0
HOUSTON - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Pineiro 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 3.90

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Albers 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 5.57

WP - M Albers. Pitches-strikes: J Pineiro 33-19; M Albers 24-17. Ground
balls-fly balls: J Pineiro 2-1; M Albers 2-3. Batters faced: J Pineiro 7; M
Albers 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Joyce. 1B--Jim Wolf. 2B--James Hoye. 3B--Tim Tschida.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND OUT BY DAVID ECKSTEIN SCORED JOEL PINEIRO.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, B RYAN ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 1
HOUSTON 1 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: R ANKIEL (.315, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO
HOU - MATT ALBERS

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: E MUNSON (.257, 4 HR, 15 RBI)
M ALBERS (.105, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
H PENCE (.322, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

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

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .292
R Ankiel cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .309
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 .321
J Encarnacion rf 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 .284
R Ludwick lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
Y Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
A Miles 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
J Pineiro p 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .111
B Ryan 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .324

Totals 12 1 3 1 1 1 6

BATTING: 2B - B Ryan (5, M Albers). RBI - D Eckstein (25). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - J Encarnacion 2. Team LOB - 3.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .322
C Burke 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .229
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .277
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
M Lamb 3b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .293
L Scott rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .257
E Bruntlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
M Albers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .105

Totals 6 1 2 1 1 1 1

BATTING: 2B - L Scott (25, J Pineiro). RBI - L Scott (58). Team LOB - 0.

BASERUNNING: CS - C Burke (3, 2nd base by J Pineiro/Y Molina).


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 001 -- 1
HOUSTON - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Pineiro 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 3.90

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Albers 3 3 1 1 1 1 0 5.62

WP - M Albers. IBB - A Pujols (by M Albers). Pitches-strikes: J Pineiro
33-19; M Albers 41-25. Ground balls-fly balls: J Pineiro 2-1; M Albers 4-4.
Batters faced: J Pineiro 7; M Albers 13.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Joyce. 1B--Jim Wolf. 2B--James Hoye. 3B--Tim Tschida.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO
HOU - MATT ALBERS

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: R LUDWICK (.248, 0-FOR-1)
Y MOLINA (.278, 0-FOR-1)
A MILES (.300, 0-FOR-1)</div>