GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: PITTSBURGH (60-78) at ST LOUIS (68-67)

NL: PITTSBURGH (60-78) at ST LOUIS (68-67)

<h3>Mulder returns to help Cardinals' playoff push</h3>



<div class="pre">Pittsburgh (60-78) at St Louis (68-67) 8:10 pm EDT</div>

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) - The St. Louis Cardinals will receive a hugeboost on Wednesday as Mark Mulder makes his first start in overa year in the third game of a four-game series with thePittsburgh Pirates.


Mulder (NR) had season-ending rotator cuff surgery lastSeptember, and missed the Cardinals' playoff run that ended in asurprising World Series title. Now he returns as St. Louisbattles for a playoff spot, and a chance to defend its title.

St. Louis posted a 6-2 win on Tuesday to move within one game ofthe Chicago Cubs (70-67) in the National League Central.Russell Branyan homered and Chris Duncan drove in three runs forthe Cardinals, who are also one-half game behind thesecond-place Milwaukee Brewers (70-68).


Like Pedro Martinez was in his return from rotator cuff surgeryfor the New York Mets on Monday, Mulder will be on a 75-pitchcount as he makes his first start since August 29, 2006. Thelefthander, who went 6-7 with a 7.14 ERA in 17 starts lastseason, is 6-0 with a 2.68 ERA in eight career starts againstPittsburgh.


Tony Armas (2-5, 6.75) gets the ball for the Pirates, who havelost six of their last seven games. Armas, who is winless inhis last four starts, is 0-2 with a 8.84 ERA in that span.

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS

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

PITTSBURGH ST LOUIS
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Cesar Izturis 3B .256 0 11 David Eckstein SS .293 2 25
Jose Bautista CF .260 14 56 Rick Ankiel RF .342 6 20
Freddy Sanchez 2B .316 11 71 Albert Pujols 1B .315 30 84
Adam Laroche 1B .267 20 80 Jim Edmonds CF .248 9 42
Jason Bay LF .253 20 82 Chris Duncan LF .264 21 69
Steven Pearce RF .214 0 1 Yadier Molina C .280 6 35
Ronny Paulino C .253 9 43 Russell Branyan 3B .204 10 25
Jack Wilson SS .278 8 43 Mark Mulder LHP .000 0 0
Tony Armas RHP .143 0 2 (NO RECORD)
(2-5, 6.75) Aaron Miles 2B .302 1 25</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS
NOTE: THE START OF THE GAME IS BEING DELAYED DUE TO RAIN.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS
WARMUPS: PIT - TONY ARMAS (2-5, 6.75)
STL - MARK MULDER (NO RECORD)

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

WEATHER: 73 Degrees, rain
WIND: 6 mph, out to center</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS
NOTE: THE GAME IS UNDERWAY AFTER A 54 MINUTE DELAY.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS
STARTING BATS: PIT - TONY ARMAS AND RONNY PAULINO
STL - MARK MULDER AND YADIER MOLINA

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: C IZTURIS (.256, 0 HR, 11 RBI)
J BAUTISTA (.260, 14 HR, 56 RBI)
F SANCHEZ (.316, 11 HR, 71 RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - TONY ARMAS
STL - MARK MULDER

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: D ECKSTEIN (.293, 2 HR, 25 RBI)
R ANKIEL (.342, 6 HR, 20 RBI)
A PUJOLS (.315, 30 HR, 84 RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS

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

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Izturis 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
J Bautista cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .262
F Sanchez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .316
A LaRoche 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
J Bay lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
S Pearce rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
R Paulino c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
T Armas p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143

Totals 3 0 1 0 0 0 1

BATTING: GIDP - F Sanchez. Team LOB - 0.


ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
R Ankiel rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .342
A Pujols 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
J Edmonds cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
C Duncan lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
R Branyan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .204
M Mulder p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
A Miles 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (D Eckstein-A Miles-A Pujols).


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 0 -- 0
ST LOUIS - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
T Armas 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.75

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mulder 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00

Pitches-strikes: M Mulder 9-7. Ground balls-fly balls: M Mulder 3-0. Batters
faced: M Mulder 3.

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

(Plus rain delay totaling 54 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 72 degrees,
overcast. Wind: 2 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS
CONFIRMED STARTERS: PIT - TONY ARMAS
STL - MARK MULDER</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - TONY ARMAS
STL - MARK MULDER

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: A LAROCHE (.267, 20 HR, 80 RBI)
J BAY (.253, 20 HR, 82 RBI)
S PEARCE (.214, 0 HR, 1 RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS

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

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Izturis 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
J Bautista cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .262
F Sanchez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .316
A LaRoche 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
J Bay lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
S Pearce rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
R Paulino c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
T Armas p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143

Totals 3 0 1 0 0 0 1

BATTING: GIDP - F Sanchez. Team LOB - 0.


ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
R Ankiel rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .338
A Pujols 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .315
J Edmonds cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .247
C Duncan lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
R Branyan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .204
M Mulder p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
A Miles 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (D Eckstein-A Miles-A Pujols).


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 0 -- 0
ST LOUIS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
T Armas 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 6.67

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mulder 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00

Pitches-strikes: T Armas 16-8; M Mulder 9-7. Ground balls-fly balls: T Armas
0-2; M Mulder 3-0. Batters faced: T Armas 4; M Mulder 3.

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

(Plus rain delay totaling 54 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 72 degrees,
overcast. Wind: 2 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY JACK WILSON SCORED ADAM LAROCHE, JASON BAY AND
RONNY PAULINO.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, J WILSON ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 3
ST LOUIS 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: T ARMAS (.143, 0 HR, 2 RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - TONY ARMAS
STL - MARK MULDER

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: C DUNCAN (.264, 21 HR, 69 RBI)
Y MOLINA (.280, 6 HR, 35 RBI)
R BRANYAN (.204, 10 HR, 25 RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">PITTSBURGH (3) VS ST LOUIS (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Izturis 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .254
J Bautista cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .262
F Sanchez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .316
A LaRoche 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .269
J Bay lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .255
S Pearce rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .200
R Paulino c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .255
J Wilson ss 1 0 1 3 0 0 0 .279
T Armas p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .136

Totals 10 3 5 3 0 1 5

BATTING: 2B - J Wilson (23, M Mulder). RBI - J Wilson 3 (46). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - C Izturis 1. GIDP - F Sanchez. Team LOB - 1.


ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
R Ankiel rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .338
A Pujols 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .315
J Edmonds cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .247
C Duncan lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
R Branyan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .204
M Mulder p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
A Miles 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (D Eckstein-A Miles-A Pujols).


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 03 -- 3
ST LOUIS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
T Armas 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 6.67

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mulder 2 5 3 3 0 1 0 13.50

Pitches-strikes: T Armas 16-8; M Mulder 29-21. Ground balls-fly balls: T
Armas 0-2; M Mulder 4-1. Batters faced: T Armas 4; M Mulder 10.

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

(Plus rain delay totaling 54 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 72 degrees,
overcast. Wind: 2 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - TONY ARMAS
STL - MARK MULDER

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: J BAUTISTA (.262, 1-FOR-1)
F SANCHEZ (.316, 0-FOR-1)
A LAROCHE (.269, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">PITTSBURGH (3) VS ST LOUIS (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Izturis 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .254
J Bautista cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .262
F Sanchez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .316
A LaRoche 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .269
J Bay lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .255
S Pearce rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .200
R Paulino c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .255
J Wilson ss 1 0 1 3 0 0 0 .279
T Armas p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .136

Totals 10 3 5 3 0 1 5

BATTING: 2B - J Wilson (23, M Mulder). RBI - J Wilson 3 (46). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - C Izturis 1. GIDP - F Sanchez. Team LOB - 1.


ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
R Ankiel rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .338
A Pujols 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .315
J Edmonds cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .247
C Duncan lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
Y Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
R Branyan 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .204
M Mulder p 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1.000
A Miles 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .301

Totals 7 0 1 0 2 1 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Miles 1. Team LOB - 3.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (D Eckstein-A Miles-A Pujols).


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 03 -- 3
ST LOUIS - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
T Armas 2 1 0 0 2 1 0 6.59

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mulder 2 5 3 3 0 1 0 13.50

Pitches-strikes: T Armas 31-17; M Mulder 29-21. Ground balls-fly balls: T
Armas 2-3; M Mulder 4-1. Batters faced: T Armas 9; M Mulder 10.

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

(Plus rain delay totaling 54 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 72 degrees,
overcast. Wind: 2 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - TONY ARMAS
STL - MARK MULDER

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: D ECKSTEIN (.292, 0-FOR-1)
R ANKIEL (.338, 0-FOR-1)
A PUJOLS (.315, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">PITTSBURGH (3) VS ST LOUIS (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Izturis 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .254
J Bautista cf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .261
F Sanchez 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .315
A LaRoche 1b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .268
J Bay lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .255
S Pearce rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .200
R Paulino c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .255
J Wilson ss 1 0 1 3 0 0 0 .279
T Armas p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .136

Totals 13 3 5 3 0 1 5

BATTING: 2B - J Wilson (23, M Mulder). RBI - J Wilson 3 (46). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - C Izturis 1. GIDP - F Sanchez. Team LOB - 1.


ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
R Ankiel rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .338
A Pujols 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .315
J Edmonds cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .247
C Duncan lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
Y Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
R Branyan 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .204
M Mulder p 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1.000
A Miles 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .301

Totals 7 0 1 0 2 1 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Miles 1. Team LOB - 3.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (D Eckstein-A Miles-A Pujols).


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 030 -- 3
ST LOUIS - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
T Armas 2 1 0 0 2 1 0 6.59

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mulder 3 5 3 3 0 1 0 9.00

Pitches-strikes: T Armas 31-17; M Mulder 39-29. Ground balls-fly balls: T
Armas 2-3; M Mulder 5-3. Batters faced: T Armas 9; M Mulder 13.

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

(Plus rain delay totaling 54 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 72 degrees,
overcast. Wind: 2 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY RICK ANKIEL (7) TO RIGHT WITH 0 OUT IN
THE 3RD OFF TONY ARMAS SCORED DAVID ECKSTEIN.
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 3, ST LOUIS 2

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A PUJOLS (.315, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - TONY ARMAS
STL - MARK MULDER

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: J BAY (.255, 1-FOR-1)
S PEARCE (.200, 0-FOR-1)
R PAULINO (.255, 1-FOR-1)</div>