NL: PITTSBURGH (61-78) at ST LOUIS (68-68) <h3>Maroth looks to help Cardinals bounce back</h3> <div class="pre">Pittsburgh (61-78) at St Louis (68-68) 2:10 pm EDT</div> ST. LOUIS (Ticker) - The St. Louis Cardinals will try keep theirpostseason aspirations alive when they meet the PittsburghPirates in Thursday's series finale of a four-game series. In order to do so, the Cardinals will need some better pitchingfrom Mike Maroth (0-4, 11.08 ERA). Maroth will be making his first start since July 27 after twoappearances out of the bullpen and a stint on the disabled listin that span. The lefthander is seeking his first win sincebeating the Washington Nationals as a member of the DetroitTigers on June 18. In his last start, the 30-year-old Maroth was pounded for sevenruns and 11 hits in four innings of a 12-2 setback against theMilwaukee Brewers. He has lost his last four starts, giving upat least four runs in any of those outings. The Cardinals are coming off an 8-2 loss on Wednesday, in whichtwo-time All-Star Mark Mulder was rocked in his return to theteam for the first time in more than a year. The lefthandergave up six runs and eight hits in four innings. With the setback, St. Louis (68-68) fell two games behind theNational League Central-leading Chicago Cubs (71-67) and 1 1/2behind the second-place Milwaukee Brewers (71-68). Pittsburgh counters with Bryan Bullington (NR), who will bemaking his first major league start and first appearance sincethe 2005 season. Taken No. 1 overall out of Ball State in 2002, the 26-year-oldposted a 11-9 record with a 4.00 ERA in 26 starts in Class AAAIndianapolis after missing all of 2006 due to shoulder surgery. Jack Wilson and Ronnie Paulino both drove in three runs to spoilMark Mulder's long-awaited return to the mound on Wednesday.
NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">PITTSBURGH AT ST LOUIS -- LINEUPS PITTSBURGH ST LOUIS AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Nate Mclouth CF .246 11 29 David Eckstein SS .296 2 25 Jose Bautista 3B .259 14 56 Rick Ankiel CF .338 7 22 Freddy Sanchez 2B .314 11 71 Albert Pujols 1B .316 30 84 Josh Phelps 1B .390 5 15 Ryan Ludwick RF .247 11 38 Jason Bay LF .254 20 82 Chris Duncan LF .261 21 69 Steven Pearce RF .278 0 1 Yadier Molina C .277 6 35 Jack Wilson SS .282 8 46 Aaron Miles 2B .299 1 25 Carlos Maldonado C .000 0 1 Mike Maroth LHP .200 0 1 Bryan Bullington RHP .000 0 0 (0-4, 11.08) (NO RECORD) Brendan Ryan 3B .331 4 10</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 - BRYAN BULLINGTON (NO RECORD) STL - MIKE MAROTH (0-4, 11.08) UMPIRES: HP - BRIAN KNIGHT 1B - MIKE WINTERS 2B - BRUCE FROEMMING 3B - MARK WEGNER WEATHER: 75 Degrees, rain WIND: 8 mph, out to left</div>
NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS NOTE: THE GAME IS UNDERWAY AFTER A 1 HOUR AND 20 MINUTE DELAY.</div>
NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS -- REVISED WARMUPS WARMUPS: PIT - BRYAN BULLINGTON (NO RECORD) STL - MIKE MAROTH (0-4, 11.08) UMPIRES: HP - BRIAN RUNGE 1B - MIKE WINTERS 2B - BRUCE FROEMMING 3B - MARK WEGNER WEATHER: 75 Degrees, rain WIND: 8 mph, out to left</div>
NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS STARTING BATS: PIT - BRYAN BULLINGTON AND CARLOS MALDONADO STL - MIKE MAROTH AND YADIER MOLINA DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: N MCLOUTH (.246, 11 HR, 29 RBI) J BAUTISTA (.259, 14 HR, 56 RBI) F SANCHEZ (.314, 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 2 0 ST LOUIS 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - BRYAN BULLINGTON STL - MIKE MAROTH DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: D ECKSTEIN (.296, 2 HR, 25 RBI) R ANKIEL (.338, 7 HR, 22 RBI) A PUJOLS (.316, 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 N McLouth cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246 J Bautista 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .261 F Sanchez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .313 J Phelps 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .400 J Bay lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .254 S Pearce rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .263 J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 C Maldonado c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 B Bullington p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 5 0 2 0 1 1 4 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - S Pearce 2. Team LOB - 3. ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 R Ankiel cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .338 A Pujols 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316 R Ludwick rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247 C Duncan lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261 Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277 A Miles 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299 M Maroth p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 B Ryan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .331 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- PITTSBURGH - 0 -- 0 ST LOUIS - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era B Bullington 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ### ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era M Maroth 1 2 0 0 1 1 0 10.74 Pitches-strikes: M Maroth 25-14. Ground balls-fly balls: M Maroth 0-2. Batters faced: M Maroth 6. UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mike Winters. 2B--Bruce Froemming. 3B--Mark Wegner. (Plus rain delay totaling 80 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 75 degrees, rain. Wind: 8 mph, out to left.</div>
NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS CONFIRMED STARTERS: PIT - BRYAN BULLINGTON STL - MIKE MAROTH</div>
NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY CHRIS DUNCAN SCORED ALBERT PUJOLS. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C DUNCAN ON FIRST, R LUDWICK ON SECOND, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 0 ST LOUIS 1 BOTTOM, 1ST DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: Y MOLINA (.277, 6 HR, 35 RBI)</div>
NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY YADIER MOLINA SCORED RYAN LUDWICK. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, Y MOLINA ON FIRST, C DUNCAN ON SECOND, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 0 ST LOUIS 2 BOTTOM, 1ST DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A MILES (.299, 1 HR, 25 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 2 0 ST LOUIS 2 2 4 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - BRYAN BULLINGTON STL - MIKE MAROTH DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: J WILSON (.282, 8 HR, 46 RBI) C MALDONADO (.000, 0 HR, 1 RBI) B BULLINGTON (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>
NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">PITTSBURGH (0) VS ST LOUIS (2) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg N McLouth cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246 J Bautista 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .261 F Sanchez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .313 J Phelps 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .400 J Bay lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .254 S Pearce rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .263 J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 C Maldonado c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 B Bullington p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 5 0 2 0 1 1 4 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - S Pearce 2. Team LOB - 3. FIELDING: DP: 1 (F Sanchez-J Wilson-J Phelps). ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .298 R Ankiel cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .333 A Pujols 1b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .316 R Ludwick rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .250 C Duncan lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .263 Y Molina c 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .280 A Miles 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .298 M Maroth p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 B Ryan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .331 Totals 6 2 4 2 1 0 3 BATTING: RBI - C Duncan (70), Y Molina (36). 2-out RBI - C Duncan, Y Molina. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Miles 1. GIDP - R Ankiel. Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- PITTSBURGH - 0 -- 0 ST LOUIS - 2 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era B Bullington 1 4 2 2 1 0 0 18.00 ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era M Maroth 1 2 0 0 1 1 0 10.74 Pitches-strikes: B Bullington 32-21; M Maroth 25-14. Ground balls-fly balls: B Bullington 3-0; M Maroth 0-2. Batters faced: B Bullington 7; M Maroth 6. UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mike Winters. 2B--Bruce Froemming. 3B--Mark Wegner. (Plus rain delay totaling 80 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 75 degrees, rain. Wind: 8 mph, out to left.</div>
NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY JOSE BAUTISTA SCORED BRYAN BULLINGTON. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J BAUTISTA ON FIRST, N MCLOUTH ON SECOND, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 1 ST LOUIS 2 TOP, 2ND DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: F SANCHEZ (.313, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY FREDDY SANCHEZ SCORED NATE MCLOUTH. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, F SANCHEZ ON SECOND, J BAUTISTA ON THIRD, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 2 ST LOUIS 2 TOP, 2ND DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: J PHELPS (.400, 1-FOR-1)</div>
NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - PITCHING CHANGE STL: KELVIN JIMENEZ (1-0, 8.18) IN THE 2ND SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J PHELPS ON FIRST, F SANCHEZ ON SECOND, J BAUTISTA ON THIRD, 2 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 2, ST LOUIS 2 DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: J BAY (.254, 0-FOR-0)</div>
NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL AT ST LOUIS - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: K Jimenez relieved M Maroth. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J PHELPS ON FIRST, F SANCHEZ ON SECOND, J BAUTISTA ON THIRD, 2 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 2 ST LOUIS 2 TOP, 2ND DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: J Bay (.254, 0-FOR-0)</div>
NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - PITTSBURGH 0 2 2 6 0 ST LOUIS 2 2 4 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - BRYAN BULLINGTON STL - KELVIN JIMENEZ DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: K JIMENEZ (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI) B RYAN (.331, 4 HR, 10 RBI) D ECKSTEIN (.298, 1-FOR-1)</div>
NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">PITTSBURGH (2) VS ST LOUIS (2) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg N McLouth cf 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .248 J Bautista 3b 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 .263 F Sanchez 2b 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 .315 J Phelps 1b 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 .400 J Bay lf 1 0 0 0 1 1 3 .253 S Pearce rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .263 J Wilson ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281 C Maldonado c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 B Bullington p 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1.000 Totals 12 2 6 2 2 2 7 BATTING: RBI - J Bautista (57), F Sanchez (72). 2-out RBI - J Bautista, F Sanchez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Bay 2, S Pearce 2. Team LOB - 6. FIELDING: DP: 1 (F Sanchez-J Wilson-J Phelps). ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .298 R Ankiel cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .333 A Pujols 1b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .316 R Ludwick rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .250 C Duncan lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .263 Y Molina c 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .280 A Miles 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .298 M Maroth p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 K Jimenez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 B Ryan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .331 Totals 6 2 4 2 1 0 3 BATTING: RBI - C Duncan (70), Y Molina (36). 2-out RBI - C Duncan, Y Molina. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Miles 1. GIDP - R Ankiel. Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- PITTSBURGH - 02 -- 2 ST LOUIS - 2 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era B Bullington 1 4 2 2 1 0 0 18.00 ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era M Maroth 1 2/3 6 2 2 2 1 0 11.07 K Jimenez 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 8.10 Pitches-strikes: B Bullington 32-21; M Maroth 54-29; K Jimenez 7-4. Ground balls-fly balls: B Bullington 3-0; M Maroth 1-3; K Jimenez 0-0. Batters faced: B Bullington 7; M Maroth 13; K Jimenez 1. UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mike Winters. 2B--Bruce Froemming. 3B--Mark Wegner. (Plus rain delay totaling 80 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 75 degrees, rain. Wind: 8 mph, out to left.</div>
