GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: PITTSBURGH (60-77) at ST LOUIS (67-67)

NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
PITTSBURGH 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 10 1
ST LOUIS 2 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 x 6 7 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: PIT - MATT MORRIS, FRANQUELIS OSORIA (6TH), JOHN GRABOW (7TH),
ROMULO SANCHEZ (8TH) AND RONNY PAULINO

STL - JOEL PINEIRO, RUSS SPRINGER (6TH), TROY PERCIVAL
(8TH), RYAN FRANKLIN (8TH) AND YADIER MOLINA


WP - JOEL PINEIRO (4-2)
LP - MATT MORRIS (8-9)
SAVE - RYAN FRANKLIN (1)

HOME RUNS: PIT - NONE

STL - RUSSELL BRANYAN (10) OFF FRANQUELIS OSORIA IN THE 6TH, 0
ON


TIME: 2:35 ATT: 42,300

PROBABLES: STL - MARK MULDER (NR)

PROBABLES: PIT - ZACH DUKE (3-7, 5.79)
STL - ANTHONY REYES (2-13, 5.63)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">PITTSBURGH (2) VS ST LOUIS (6) - FINAL

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Morgan cf 5 0 0 1 0 1 0 .286
J Bautista 3b 5 0 2 1 0 1 0 .260
F Sanchez 2b 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 .316
A LaRoche 1b 4 0 2 0 0 0 4 .267
J Bay lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .253
S Pearce rf 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .214
R Paulino c 4 1 3 0 0 0 1 .253
J Wilson ss 3 1 2 0 1 0 1 .278
M Morris p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .196
a-J Phelps ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .390
F Osoria p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Grabow p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-N McLouth ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .246
R Sanchez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 35 2 10 2 3 3 16

a-grounded into fielder's choice to third for M Morris in the 6th; b-popped
out to second for J Grabow in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - J Bautista 2 (32, J Pineiro 2). S - M Morris. RBI - N Morgan (1),
J Bautista (56). 2-out RBI - J Bautista. Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - A LaRoche 2, J Phelps 1, J Wilson 1, N McLouth 2. Team LOB - 10.

BASERUNNING: SB - S Pearce (1, 2nd base off J Pineiro/Y Molina). Picked Off -
S Pearce (1st base, Y Molina).

FIELDING: E - J Bautista (15, ground ball). DP: 1 (A LaRoche-J Wilson-F
Sanchez).


ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 4 2 3 0 0 0 1 .293
R Ankiel rf 3 2 1 1 1 1 2 .342
A Pujols 1b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
J Edmonds cf 2 1 0 1 1 1 0 .248
R Franklin p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500
C Duncan lf 3 0 1 3 0 1 0 .264
R Springer p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
T Percival p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
S Schumaker cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .317
Y Molina c 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .280
R Branyan 3b 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 .204
J Pineiro p 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 .091
R Ludwick lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
M Cairo 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000

Totals 30 6 7 6 3 4 6

BATTING: 2B - D Eckstein (14, M Morris); R Ankiel (5, M Morris); C Duncan (20,
M Morris). HR - R Branyan (10, 6th inning off F Osoria 0 on, 1 Out). SF - J
Edmonds. RBI - R Ankiel (20), J Edmonds (42), C Duncan 3 (69), R Branyan (25).
2-out RBI - C Duncan 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Ankiel 1, Y
Molina 1. GIDP - Y Molina. Team LOB - 4.


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 002 000 000 -- 2
ST LOUIS - 203 001 00x -- 6
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
M Morris (L, 8-9) 5 5 5 5 3 2 0 4.54
F Osoria 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 3.78
J Grabow 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.30
R Sanchez 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1.17

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Pineiro (W, 4-2) 5 2/3 8 2 2 2 2 0 3.63
R Springer (H, 9) 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.47
T Percival 2/3 2 0 0 1 0 0 2.33
R Franklin (S, 1) 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.93

Pitches-strikes: M Morris 89-53; F Osoria 9-9; J Grabow 14-9; R Sanchez 8-4;
J Pineiro 107-64; R Springer 15-10; T Percival 18-11; R Franklin 9-7. Ground
balls-fly balls: M Morris 7-6; F Osoria 2-1; J Grabow 1-0; R Sanchez 3-0; J
Pineiro 9-5; R Springer 1-2; T Percival 0-2; R Franklin 0-4. Batters faced: M
Morris 23; F Osoria 5; J Grabow 3; R Sanchez 3; J Pineiro 26; R Springer 4; T
Percival 5; R Franklin 4.

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

T--2:35. Att--42,300.
Weather: 84 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 4 mph, right to
left.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
PITTSBURGH 2
ST LOUIS 6 FINAL</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PITTSBURGH (2) AT ST LOUIS (6) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ST LOUIS 1ST: D Eckstein doubled to left. R Ankiel doubled to deep right,
D Eckstein scored. A Pujols grounded out to first, R Ankiel to third.
J Edmonds hit sacrifice fly to left, R Ankiel scored. C Duncan flied out to
left. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 0, ST LOUIS 2.

PITTSBURGH 3RD: R Paulino singled to left. J Wilson singled to right,
R Paulino to second. M Morris sacrificed to pitcher, R Paulino to third,
J Wilson to second. N Morgan grounded out to shortstop, R Paulino scored,
J Wilson to third. J Bautista doubled to deep center, J Wilson scored.
F Sanchez walked. A LaRoche fouled out to third. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors)
PITTSBURGH 2, ST LOUIS 2.

ST LOUIS 3RD: M Cairo grounded out to shortstop. D Eckstein singled to
center. R Ankiel walked, D Eckstein to second. A Pujols flied out to center,
D Eckstein to third, R Ankiel to second. J Edmonds walked. C Duncan doubled
to deep left, D Eckstein, R Ankiel and J Edmonds scored. Y Molina grounded out
to pitcher. (3 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 2, ST LOUIS 5.

ST LOUIS 6TH: F Osoria relieved M Morris. Y Molina lined out to second.
R Branyan homered to right. R Ludwick grounded out to shortstop. M Cairo safe
at first on error by third baseman J Bautista. D Eckstein grounded into
fielder's choice to shortstop, M Cairo out at second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error)
PITTSBURGH 2, ST LOUIS 6.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
PITTSBURGH 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 10 1
ST LOUIS 2 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 x 6 7 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: PIT - MATT MORRIS, FRANQUELIS OSORIA (6TH), JOHN GRABOW (7TH),
ROMULO SANCHEZ (8TH) AND RONNY PAULINO

STL - JOEL PINEIRO, RUSS SPRINGER (6TH), TROY PERCIVAL
(8TH), RYAN FRANKLIN (8TH) AND YADIER MOLINA


WP - JOEL PINEIRO (4-2)
LP - MATT MORRIS (8-9)
SAVE - RYAN FRANKLIN (1)

HOME RUNS: PIT - NONE

STL - RUSSELL BRANYAN (10) OFF FRANQUELIS OSORIA IN THE 6TH, 0
ON


TIME: 2:35 ATT: 42,300

PROBABLES: PIT - TONY ARMAS (2-5, 6.75)
STL - MARK MULDER (NR)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PITTSBURGH (2) AT ST LOUIS (6) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pittsburgh Starting Lineups -- N Morgan CF, J Bautista 3B, F Sanchez 2B,
A LaRoche 1B, J Bay LF, S Pearce RF, R Paulino C, J Wilson SS, M Morris RHP.

St Louis Starting Lineups -- D Eckstein SS, R Ankiel RF, A Pujols 1B, J Edmonds CF,
C Duncan LF, Y Molina C, R Branyan 3B, M Cairo 2B, J Pineiro RHP.

Umpires -- Bruce Froemming (HP), Mark Wegner (1B), Brian Knight (2B),
Mike Winters (3B).

Gametime Weather: 84 degrees, Cloudy, wind right to left at 4 mph.


PITTSBURGH 1ST: N Morgan flied out to center. J Bautista struck out
swinging. F Sanchez flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
PITTSBURGH 0, ST LOUIS 0.

ST LOUIS 1ST: D Eckstein doubled to left. R Ankiel doubled to deep right,
D Eckstein scored. A Pujols grounded out to first, R Ankiel to third.
J Edmonds hit sacrifice fly to left, R Ankiel scored. C Duncan flied out to
left. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 0, ST LOUIS 2.

PITTSBURGH 2ND: A LaRoche singled to left. J Bay flied out to center.
S Pearce grounded into fielder's choice to third, A LaRoche out at second.
S Pearce picked off first.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 0, ST LOUIS 2.

ST LOUIS 2ND: Y Molina grounded out to shortstop. R Branyan lined out to
third. J Pineiro struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 0,
ST LOUIS 2.

PITTSBURGH 3RD: R Paulino singled to left. J Wilson singled to right,
R Paulino to second. M Morris sacrificed to pitcher, R Paulino to third,
J Wilson to second. N Morgan grounded out to shortstop, R Paulino scored,
J Wilson to third. J Bautista doubled to deep center, J Wilson scored.
F Sanchez walked. A LaRoche fouled out to third. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors)
PITTSBURGH 2, ST LOUIS 2.

ST LOUIS 3RD: M Cairo grounded out to shortstop. D Eckstein singled to
center. R Ankiel walked, D Eckstein to second. A Pujols flied out to center,
D Eckstein to third, R Ankiel to second. J Edmonds walked. C Duncan doubled
to deep left, D Eckstein, R Ankiel and J Edmonds scored. Y Molina grounded out
to pitcher. (3 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 2, ST LOUIS 5.

PITTSBURGH 4TH: J Bay singled to left. S Pearce grounded into fielder's
choice to third, J Bay out at second. S Pearce stole second. R Paulino
grounded out to shortstop. J Wilson grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 2, ST LOUIS 5.

ST LOUIS 4TH: R Branyan grounded out to second. J Pineiro walked. M Cairo
popped out to second. D Eckstein singled to center, J Pineiro to second.
R Ankiel flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 2, ST LOUIS 5.

PITTSBURGH 5TH: M Morris struck out looking. N Morgan flied out to center.
J Bautista doubled to deep center. F Sanchez walked. A LaRoche grounded out
to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 2, ST LOUIS 5.

ST LOUIS 5TH: A Pujols grounded out to second. J Edmonds grounded out to
second. C Duncan struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 2,
ST LOUIS 5.

PITTSBURGH 6TH: J Bay grounded out to shortstop. S Pearce grounded out to
third. R Paulino singled to right. J Wilson singled to center, R Paulino to
second. J Phelps hit for M Morris. R Springer relieved J Pineiro. R Ludwick in
left field. J Phelps grounded into fielder's choice to third, R Paulino out at
third. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 2, ST LOUIS 5.

ST LOUIS 6TH: F Osoria relieved M Morris. Y Molina lined out to second.
R Branyan homered to right. R Ludwick grounded out to shortstop. M Cairo safe
at first on error by third baseman J Bautista. D Eckstein grounded into
fielder's choice to shortstop, M Cairo out at second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error)
PITTSBURGH 2, ST LOUIS 6.

PITTSBURGH 7TH: N Morgan struck out swinging. J Bautista flied out to
right. F Sanchez flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 2,
ST LOUIS 6.

ST LOUIS 7TH: J Grabow relieved F Osoria. R Ankiel struck out swinging.
A Pujols grounded out to third. J Edmonds struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 2, ST LOUIS 6.

PITTSBURGH 8TH: T Percival relieved R Springer. A LaRoche singled to
center. J Bay flied out to center. S Pearce flied out to center. R Paulino
singled to right, A LaRoche to second. J Wilson walked, A LaRoche to third,
R Paulino to second. N McLouth hit for J Grabow. R Franklin relieved T Percival.
S Schumaker in center field. N McLouth popped out to second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 2, ST LOUIS 6.

ST LOUIS 8TH: R Sanchez relieved J Grabow. S Schumaker singled to left.
Y Molina bunted into double play, first to shortstop to second, S Schumaker out
at second. R Branyan grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
PITTSBURGH 2, ST LOUIS 6.

PITTSBURGH 9TH: N Morgan flied out to center. J Bautista flied out to
right. F Sanchez flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 2,
ST LOUIS 6.</div>

 

Pineiro, Duncan help Cards past Pirates

<h3>ST LOUIS 6, PITTSBURGH 2</h3>ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Joel Pineiro continues to be a pleasantsurprise for the St. Louis Cardinals.


Pineiro allowed two runs in 5 2/3 solid innings and Chris Duncanhit a key three-run double as the Cardinals defeated thePittsburgh Pirates, 6-2, on Tuesday.


David Eckstein had three hits and scored twice for theCardinals, who have won 16 of their last 21 games at home.

The Cardinals (68-67) moved within one game of the NationalLeague Central-leading Chicago Cubs (70-67), who lost to the LosAngeles Dodgers, and one-half game behind the Milwaukee Brewers(70-68), who lost to the Houston Astros.


St. Louis has now won five of the seven games started by Pineiro(4-2), who was acquired for a player to be named later from theBoston Red Sox on July 30. The 28-year-old righthander pitchedaround trouble, scattering eight hits and striking out two.

With the score tied, 2-2, in the bottom of the third inning, theCardinals loaded the bases with two outs against Pittsburghstarter Matt Morris. Duncan, who had not recorded an extra-basehit in his last 28 at-bats, lined the 2-1 pitch to left field,clearing the bases and giving St. Louis a 5-2 lead.

The Pirates brought the tying run to the plate with two outs inthe top of the eighth inning, but Ryan Franklin got Nate McLouthto pop out to second base with the bases loaded.


Franklin finished the game with a perfect ninth inning for hisfirst career save.


Morris (8-9) allowed five runs and five hits in five innings,making his second start against his former team. The veteranrighthander had spent the first eight seasons of his career inSt. Louis.


The Cardinals got on the board in the bottom of the firstinning, when Eckstein led off with a double and scored on RickAnkiel's RBI double to right. Two batters later, Ankiel scoredon Jim Edmonds' sacrifice fly to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead.

The Pirates answered back to tie the game in the top of thethird. Ronny Paulino and Jack Wilson started off the inning<div class="pre">with singles and moved into scoring position on Morris'</div>sacrifice. Nyjer Morgan's ground out scored one run and JoseBautista followed with an RBI double to center, tying the gameat 2-2.


Russell Branyan hit his first home run in a Cardinals uniform inthe bottom of the sixth inning, to give St. Louis a 6-2 lead.

 

Pineiro, Duncan help Cards past Pirates

<h3>ST LOUIS 6, PITTSBURGH 2</h3>ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Joel Pineiro continues to be a pleasantsurprise for the St. Louis Cardinals.


Pineiro allowed two runs in 5 2/3 solid innings and Chris Duncanhit a key three-run double as the Cardinals defeated thePittsburgh Pirates, 6-2, on Tuesday.


David Eckstein had three hits and scored twice for theCardinals, who have won 16 of their last 21 games at home.

The Cardinals (68-67) moved within one game of the NationalLeague Central-leading Chicago Cubs (70-67), who lost to the LosAngeles Dodgers, and one-half game behind the Milwaukee Brewers(70-68), who beat the Houston Astros.


St. Louis has now won five of the seven games started by Pineiro(4-2), who was acquired for a player to be named later from theBoston Red Sox on July 30. The 28-year-old righthander pitchedaround trouble, scattering eight hits and striking out two.

With the score tied, 2-2, in the bottom of the third inning, theCardinals loaded the bases with two outs against Pittsburghstarter Matt Morris. Duncan, who had not recorded an extra-basehit in his last 28 at-bats, lined the 2-1 pitch to left field,clearing the bases and giving St. Louis a 5-2 lead.

The Pirates brought the tying run to the plate with two outs inthe top of the eighth inning, but Ryan Franklin got Nate McLouthto pop out to second base with the bases loaded.


Franklin finished the game with a perfect ninth inning for hisfirst career save.


Morris (8-9) allowed five runs and five hits in five innings,making his second start against his former team. The veteranrighthander had spent the first eight seasons of his career inSt. Louis.


The Cardinals got on the board in the bottom of the firstinning, when Eckstein led off with a double and scored on RickAnkiel's RBI double to right. Two batters later, Ankiel scoredon Jim Edmonds' sacrifice fly to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead.

The Pirates answered back to tie the game in the top of thethird. Ronny Paulino and Jack Wilson started off the inning<div class="pre">with singles and moved into scoring position on Morris'</div>sacrifice. Nyjer Morgan's ground out scored one run and JoseBautista followed with an RBI double to center, tying the gameat 2-2.


Russell Branyan hit his first home run in a Cardinals uniform inthe bottom of the sixth inning, to give St. Louis a 6-2 lead.

 

Pineiro, Duncan help Cards past Pirates

<h3>ST LOUIS 6, PITTSBURGH 2</h3>ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Joel Pineiro continues to be a pleasantsurprise for the St. Louis Cardinals.


Pineiro allowed two runs in 5 2/3 solid innings and Chris Duncanhit a key three-run double as the Cardinals defeated thePittsburgh Pirates, 6-2, on Tuesday.


David Eckstein had three hits and scored twice for theCardinals, who have won 16 of their last 21 games at home.

The Cardinals (68-67) moved within one game of the NationalLeague Central-leading Chicago Cubs (70-67), who lost to the LosAngeles Dodgers, and one-half game behind the Milwaukee Brewers(70-68), who beat the Houston Astros.


"A win is a win and we needed a win big time," Pineiro said.

St. Louis has now won five of the seven games started by Pineiro(4-2), who was acquired for a player to be named later from theBoston Red Sox on July 31. The 28-year-old righthander pitchedaround trouble, scattering eight hits and striking out two.

"I'm just glad I'm starting again," Pineiro said. "Going throughthe routine and not waiting to come out of the pen. Startingis what I love to do and I have been doing it for a lot ofyears. I'm reviving myself as a starter, that's what I want todo."


With the score tied, 2-2, in the bottom of the third inning, theCardinals loaded the bases with two outs against Pittsburghstarter Matt Morris. Duncan, who had not recorded an extra-basehit in his last 28 at-bats, lined the 2-1 pitch to left field,clearing the bases and giving St. Louis a 5-2 lead.

"It felt good to help contribute," Duncan said. "I've beenstruggling, grinding, trying to get through it. I was happy toget a hit with some guys on base. It felt good."


"We score the two runs (in the top of the third)," Morris said."(To) go out there and give up the three (runs) right there withtwo outs is tough to take."


The Pirates brought the tying run to the plate with two outs inthe top of the eighth inning, but Ryan Franklin got Nate McLouthto pop out to second base with the bases loaded.


"I knew (McLouth) was a good off-speed hitter," Franklin said."I think he may have been sitting on my curveball and I justpounded him in with my cutters."


Franklin finished the game with a perfect ninth inning for hisfirst career save.


Morris (8-9) allowed five runs and five hits in five innings,making his second start against his former team. The veteranrighthander had spent the first eight seasons of his career inSt. Louis.


"(The Cardinals) approach on me was a little different," Morrissaid. "It wasn't what the scouting report says as far as thoseguys going out and trying to hook balls. They were just tryingto hit the fastball the other way and sit on some breakingstuff."


The Cardinals got on the board in the bottom of the firstinning, when Eckstein led off with a double and scored on RickAnkiel's RBI double to right. Two batters later, Ankiel scoredon Jim Edmonds' sacrifice fly to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead.

The Pirates answered back to tie the game in the top of thethird. Ronny Paulino and Jack Wilson started off the inning<div class="pre">with singles and moved into scoring position on Morris'</div>sacrifice. Nyjer Morgan's ground out scored one run and JoseBautista followed with an RBI double to center, tying the gameat 2-2.


Russell Branyan hit his first home run in a Cardinals uniform inthe bottom of the sixth inning, to give St. Louis a 6-2 lead.

Pittsburgh went 4-for-16 with runners on base and just 1-for-8with runners in scoring position as they had a three-gamewinning streak against the Cardinals snapped.


"We had our chances offensively," Pirates manager Jim Tracysaid. "We needed a two-out base hit here or there and we justweren't able to get it. When you have people on you have to geta hit here or there. We couldn't do that."