GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: ST LOUIS (22-29) at HOUSTON (22-31)

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY KIP WELLS SCORED SCOTT SPIEZIO.
SITUATION: 5 RUNS IN, K WELLS ON FIRST, A PUJOLS ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 6
HOUSTON 1 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: J ENCARNACION (.224, 1-FOR-4, HR, RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY GARY BENNETT SCORED ALBERT PUJOLS AND KIP WELLS.

SITUATION: 7 RUNS IN, G BENNETT ON SECOND, J ENCARNACION ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 8
HOUSTON 1 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A KENNEDY (.225, 0-FOR-2, BB, HBP)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - PITCHING CHANGE
HOU: BRIAN MOEHLER (0-1, 7.41) IN THE 9TH
SITUATION: 7 RUNS IN, G BENNETT ON SECOND, J ENCARNACION ON THIRD, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 8, HOUSTON 1

DUE UP FOR STLOUIS: A KENNEDY (.225, 0-FOR-2)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: B Moehler relieved D Wheeler.
SITUATION: 7 RUNS IN, G BENNETT ON SECOND, J ENCARNACION ON THIRD, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 8
HOUSTON 1 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A Kennedy (.225, 0-FOR-2)</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 0 0 0 7 8 10 0
HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 5 1 (BOT 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - RYAN FRANKLIN (OUT)
HOU - BRIAN MOEHLER

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: A EVERETT (.211, 0-FOR-3)
B AUSMUS (.237, 1-FOR-3)
M LORETTA (.349, 0 HR, 11 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS (8) VS HOUSTON (1) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280
a-A Miles ph-ss 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .269
S Spiezio lf-3b 5 1 2 2 0 1 4 .275
A Pujols 1b 4 2 1 0 1 1 1 .295
J Edmonds cf 3 0 0 0 1 1 2 .240
S Rolen 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
S Taguchi lf 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .250
R Franklin p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-K Wells ph 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .300
J Encarnacion rf 4 1 1 1 1 2 2 .224
G Bennett c 5 1 2 3 0 0 2 .263
A Kennedy 2b 3 1 0 0 1 2 2 .224
A Wainwright p 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .316
R Ludwick lf 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .224

Totals 35 8 10 7 4 8 16

a-grounded to second for D Eckstein in the 7th; b-singled to right for R
Franklin in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - A Pujols (11, R Oswalt); S Spiezio (7, D Wheeler); G Bennett (2,
D Wheeler). HR - J Encarnacion (1, 9th inning off C Qualls 0 on, 0 Out), G
Bennett (1, 9th inning off C Qualls 0 on, 0 Out). S - R Ludwick , J Edmonds , A
Wainwright. RBI - J Encarnacion (7), G Bennett 3 (7), S Spiezio 2 (17), K Wells
(2). 2-out RBI - K Wells, G Bennett 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- S Spiezio 2, G Bennett 1, A Kennedy 2. Team LOB - 9.

BASERUNNING: SB - R Ludwick (2, 2nd base off D Wheeler/B Ausmus).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Miles-A Kennedy-A Pujols).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .236
H Pence cf 4 1 2 0 0 2 2 .353
L Berkman 1b 4 0 1 0 0 2 2 .245
C Lee lf 3 0 1 1 1 0 1 .317
L Scott rf 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 .231
M Ensberg 3b 3 0 0 0 1 1 6 .226
D Wheeler p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Moehler p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
A Everett ss 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .211
B Ausmus c 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .237
R Oswalt p 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .115
a-M Lamb ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .267
C Qualls p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
T Miller p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M Loretta 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .349

Totals 28 1 5 1 5 6 13

a-popped out to second for R Oswalt in the 7th.

BATTING: 2B - H Pence (10, A Wainwright); C Lee (17, A Wainwright). RBI - C Lee
(49). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ensberg 3, H Pence 1. GIDP -
M Ensberg. Team LOB - 8.

BASERUNNING: SB - H Pence (4, 2nd base off A Wainwright/G Bennett).

FIELDING: E - L Berkman (5, throw).


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 000 100 007 -- 8
HOUSTON - 000 001 00 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
A Wainwright 7 4 1 1 4 6 0 5.12
R Franklin 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1.21

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
R Oswalt 7 4 1 1 2 4 0 3.20
C Qualls 1 3 2 2 0 2 2 4.39
T Miller 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 6.91
D Wheeler 2/3 3 3 3 2 1 0 4.07
B Moehler 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 7.27

C Qualls pitched to 2 batters in the 9th.
T Miller pitched to 2 batters in the 9th.

WP - T Miller. IBB - A Pujols (by D Wheeler). HBP - D Eckstein (by R Oswalt);
A Kennedy (by T Miller). Pitches-strikes: A Wainwright 108-69; R Franklin 15-7;
R Oswalt 94-63; C Qualls 24-15; T Miller 7-4; D Wheeler 23-14; B Moehler 3-3.
Ground balls-fly balls: A Wainwright 8-7; R Franklin 2-1; R Oswalt 12-5; C
Qualls 1-0; T Miller 1-0; D Wheeler 0-1; B Moehler 0-0. Batters faced: A
Wainwright 29; R Franklin 4; R Oswalt 28; C Qualls 6; T Miller 2; D Wheeler 7;
B Moehler 1.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Lance Barksdale. 2B--Adrian Johnson.
3B--Jim Reynolds.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - PITCHING CHANGE
STL: RUSS SPRINGER (1-0, 3.18) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 8, HOUSTON 1

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: A EVERETT (.211, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: R Springer relieved R Franklin.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 8
HOUSTON 1 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: A Everett (.211, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

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

BATTERIES: STL - ADAM WAINWRIGHT, RYAN FRANKLIN (8TH), RUSS SPRINGER (9TH) AND
GARY BENNETT

HOU - ROY OSWALT, CHAD QUALLS (8TH), TREVER MILLER
(9TH), DAN WHEELER (9TH), BRIAN MOEHLER (9TH) AND BRAD AUSMUS

HOME RUNS: STL - JUAN ENCARNACION (1) OFF CHAD QUALLS IN THE 9TH, 0 ON
GARY BENNETT (1) OFF CHAD QUALLS IN THE 9TH, 0 ON

HOU - NONE</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

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

BATTERIES: STL - ADAM WAINWRIGHT, RYAN FRANKLIN (8TH), RUSS SPRINGER (9TH) AND
GARY BENNETT

HOU - ROY OSWALT, CHAD QUALLS (8TH), TREVER MILLER
(9TH), DAN WHEELER (9TH), BRIAN MOEHLER (9TH) AND BRAD AUSMUS


WP - RYAN FRANKLIN (2-0)
LP - CHAD QUALLS (4-3)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: STL - JUAN ENCARNACION (1) OFF CHAD QUALLS IN THE 9TH, 0 ON
GARY BENNETT (1) OFF CHAD QUALLS IN THE 9TH, 0 ON

HOU - NONE


TIME: 3:13 ATT: 36,784

PROBABLES: STL - KIP WELLS (2-9, 6.20)
HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON (4-5, 3.44)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS (8) VS HOUSTON (1) - FINAL

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280
a-A Miles ph-ss 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .269
S Spiezio lf-3b 5 1 2 2 0 1 4 .275
A Pujols 1b 4 2 1 0 1 1 1 .295
J Edmonds cf 3 0 0 0 1 1 2 .240
S Rolen 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
S Taguchi lf 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .250
R Franklin p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-K Wells ph 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .300
R Springer p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Encarnacion rf 4 1 1 1 1 2 2 .224
G Bennett c 5 1 2 3 0 0 2 .263
A Kennedy 2b 3 1 0 0 1 2 2 .224
A Wainwright p 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .316
R Ludwick lf 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .224

Totals 35 8 10 7 4 8 16

a-grounded to second for D Eckstein in the 7th; b-singled to right for R
Franklin in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - A Pujols (11, R Oswalt); S Spiezio (7, D Wheeler); G Bennett (2,
D Wheeler). HR - J Encarnacion (1, 9th inning off C Qualls 0 on, 0 Out), G
Bennett (1, 9th inning off C Qualls 0 on, 0 Out). S - R Ludwick , J Edmonds , A
Wainwright. RBI - J Encarnacion (7), G Bennett 3 (7), S Spiezio 2 (17), K Wells
(2). 2-out RBI - K Wells, G Bennett 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- S Spiezio 2, G Bennett 1, A Kennedy 2. Team LOB - 9.

BASERUNNING: SB - R Ludwick (2, 2nd base off D Wheeler/B Ausmus).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Miles-A Kennedy-A Pujols).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .236
H Pence cf 4 1 2 0 0 2 2 .353
L Berkman 1b 4 0 1 0 0 2 2 .245
C Lee lf 3 0 1 1 1 0 1 .317
L Scott rf 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 .231
M Ensberg 3b 3 0 0 0 1 1 6 .226
D Wheeler p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Moehler p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
A Everett ss 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .209
B Ausmus c 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 .236
R Oswalt p 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .115
a-M Lamb ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .267
C Qualls p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
T Miller p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M Loretta 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .346

Totals 31 1 5 1 5 7 13

a-popped out to second for R Oswalt in the 7th.

BATTING: 2B - H Pence (10, A Wainwright); C Lee (17, A Wainwright). RBI - C Lee
(49). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ensberg 3, H Pence 1. GIDP -
M Ensberg. Team LOB - 8.

BASERUNNING: SB - H Pence (4, 2nd base off A Wainwright/G Bennett).

FIELDING: E - L Berkman (5, throw).


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 000 100 007 -- 8
HOUSTON - 000 001 000 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
A Wainwright 7 4 1 1 4 6 0 5.12
R Franklin (W, 2-0) 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1.21
R Springer 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.00

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
R Oswalt 7 4 1 1 2 4 0 3.20
C Qualls (L, 4-3) 1 3 2 2 0 2 2 4.39
T Miller 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 6.91
D Wheeler 2/3 3 3 3 2 1 0 4.07
B Moehler 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 7.27

C Qualls pitched to 2 batters in the 9th.
T Miller pitched to 2 batters in the 9th.

WP - T Miller. IBB - A Pujols (by D Wheeler). HBP - D Eckstein (by R Oswalt);
A Kennedy (by T Miller). Pitches-strikes: A Wainwright 108-69; R Franklin 15-7;
R Springer 15-10; R Oswalt 94-63; C Qualls 24-15; T Miller 7-4; D Wheeler
23-14; B Moehler 3-3. Ground balls-fly balls: A Wainwright 8-7; R Franklin 2-1;
R Springer 0-2; R Oswalt 12-5; C Qualls 1-0; T Miller 1-0; D Wheeler 0-1; B
Moehler 0-0. Batters faced: A Wainwright 29; R Franklin 4; R Springer 3; R
Oswalt 28; C Qualls 6; T Miller 2; D Wheeler 7; B Moehler 1.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Lance Barksdale. 2B--Adrian Johnson.
3B--Jim Reynolds.

T--3:13. Att--36,784.
Weather: INDOORS</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
ST LOUIS 8
HOUSTON 1 FINAL</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ST LOUIS (8) AT HOUSTON (1) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ST LOUIS 4TH: A Pujols doubled to left. J Edmonds sacrificed to catcher,
A Pujols to third, A Pujols scored on throwing error by first baseman L Berkman.
S Taguchi fouled out to right. J Encarnacion grounded out to third. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 1 Error) ST LOUIS 1, HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 6TH: H Pence singled to center. L Berkman struck out swinging.
H Pence stole second. C Lee doubled to deep center, H Pence scored. L Scott
grounded out to first, C Lee to third. M Ensberg grounded out to shortstop.
(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 1, HOUSTON 1.

ST LOUIS 9TH: J Encarnacion homered to left center. G Bennett homered to
left. T Miller relieved C Qualls. A Kennedy hit by pitch. A Kennedy to second
on wild pitch by T Miller. R Ludwick sacrificed into fielder's choice to
pitcher, A Kennedy to third. D Wheeler relieved T Miller. M Loretta at third
base. R Ludwick stole second. A Miles struck out swinging. S Spiezio doubled
to deep right, A Kennedy and R Ludwick scored. A Pujols intentionally walked.
J Edmonds flied out to center, S Spiezio to third. K Wells hit for R Franklin.
K Wells singled to right, S Spiezio scored, A Pujols to third. J Encarnacion
walked, K Wells to second. G Bennett doubled to left, A Pujols and K Wells
scored, J Encarnacion to third. B Moehler relieved D Wheeler. A Kennedy struck
out swinging. (7 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 8, HOUSTON 1.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ST LOUIS (8) AT HOUSTON (1) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

St Louis Starting Lineups -- D Eckstein SS, S Spiezio LF, A Pujols 1B,
J Edmonds CF, S Rolen 3B, J Encarnacion RF, G Bennett C, A Kennedy 2B,
A Wainwright RHP.

Houston Starting Lineups -- C Biggio 2B, H Pence CF, L Berkman 1B, C Lee LF,
L Scott RF, M Ensberg 3B, A Everett SS, B Ausmus C, R Oswalt RHP.

Umpires -- Gary Cederstrom (HP), Lance Barksdale (1B), Adrian Johnson (2B),
Jim Reynolds (3B).

Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


ST LOUIS 1ST: D Eckstein flied out to right. S Spiezio grounded out to
shortstop. A Pujols grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
ST LOUIS 0, HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 1ST: C Biggio popped out to second. H Pence doubled to left.
L Berkman struck out swinging. C Lee walked. L Scott walked, H Pence to third,
C Lee to second. M Ensberg struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
ST LOUIS 0, HOUSTON 0.

ST LOUIS 2ND: J Edmonds flied out to left. S Rolen grounded out to second.
J Encarnacion struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 0,
HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 2ND: A Everett struck out looking. B Ausmus lined out to center.
R Oswalt flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 0, HOUSTON 0.

ST LOUIS 3RD: G Bennett popped out to shortstop. A Kennedy struck out
swinging. A Wainwright singled to left. D Eckstein singled to right,
A Wainwright to second. S Spiezio grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) ST LOUIS 0, HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 3RD: S Spiezio at third base. S Taguchi in left field. C Biggio
fouled out to catcher. H Pence struck out swinging. L Berkman grounded out to
second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 0, HOUSTON 0.

ST LOUIS 4TH: A Pujols doubled to left. J Edmonds sacrificed to catcher,
A Pujols to third, A Pujols scored on throwing error by first baseman L Berkman.
S Taguchi fouled out to right. J Encarnacion grounded out to third. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 1 Error) ST LOUIS 1, HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 4TH: C Lee grounded out to shortstop. L Scott grounded out to
second. M Ensberg walked. A Everett grounded into fielder's choice to
shortstop, M Ensberg out at second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 1,
HOUSTON 0.

ST LOUIS 5TH: G Bennett grounded out to shortstop. A Kennedy walked.
A Wainwright sacrificed to catcher, A Kennedy to second. D Eckstein hit by
pitch. S Spiezio struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 1,
HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 5TH: B Ausmus grounded out to third. R Oswalt flied out to center.
C Biggio grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 1,
HOUSTON 0.

ST LOUIS 6TH: A Pujols grounded out to second. J Edmonds walked.
S Taguchi singled to right, J Edmonds to third. J Encarnacion struck out
swinging. G Bennett grounded into fielder's choice to third, S Taguchi out at
second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 1, HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 6TH: H Pence singled to center. L Berkman struck out swinging.
H Pence stole second. C Lee doubled to deep center, H Pence scored. L Scott
grounded out to first, C Lee to third. M Ensberg grounded out to shortstop.
(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 1, HOUSTON 1.

ST LOUIS 7TH: A Kennedy grounded out to second. A Wainwright flied out to
right. A Miles hit for D Eckstein. A Miles grounded out to second. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 1, HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 7TH: A Miles at shortstop. A Everett popped out to second.
B Ausmus singled to center. M Lamb hit for R Oswalt. M Lamb popped out to
second. C Biggio walked, B Ausmus to second. H Pence struck out swinging.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 1, HOUSTON 1.

ST LOUIS 8TH: C Qualls relieved R Oswalt. S Spiezio singled to right.
A Pujols struck out swinging. J Edmonds struck out looking. S Taguchi grounded
into fielder's choice to shortstop, S Spiezio out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) ST LOUIS 1, HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 8TH: R Franklin relieved A Wainwright. R Ludwick in left field.
L Berkman singled to center. C Lee flied out to center. L Scott walked,
L Berkman to second. M Ensberg grounded into double play, shortstop to second to
first, L Scott out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 1, HOUSTON 1.

ST LOUIS 9TH: J Encarnacion homered to left center. G Bennett homered to
left. T Miller relieved C Qualls. A Kennedy hit by pitch. A Kennedy to second
on wild pitch by T Miller. R Ludwick sacrificed into fielder's choice to
pitcher, A Kennedy to third. D Wheeler relieved T Miller. M Loretta at third
base. R Ludwick stole second. A Miles struck out swinging. S Spiezio doubled
to deep right, A Kennedy and R Ludwick scored. A Pujols intentionally walked.
J Edmonds flied out to center, S Spiezio to third. K Wells hit for R Franklin.
K Wells singled to right, S Spiezio scored, A Pujols to third. J Encarnacion
walked, K Wells to second. G Bennett doubled to left, A Pujols and K Wells
scored, J Encarnacion to third. B Moehler relieved D Wheeler. A Kennedy struck
out swinging. (7 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 8, HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 9TH: R Springer relieved R Franklin. A Everett popped out to
shortstop. B Ausmus struck out swinging. M Loretta flied out to right.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 8, HOUSTON 1.</div>

 

Bennett, Cardinals use seven-run ninth inning to beat Astros

<h3>ST LOUIS 8, HOUSTON 1</h3>HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Gary Bennett is filling in just fine forYadier Molina.

Bennett homered and drove in three runs to spark a seven-runninth inning as the St. Louis Cardinals posted an 8-1 victoryover the Houston Astros on Friday.

In his third game catching in place of the injured Molina,Bennett followed Juan Encarnacion's homer with one of his ownand added a two-run double as the Cardinals sent 13 men to theplate in the decisive inning.

Molina, the team's everyday catcher, is out four to six weekswith a broken right wrist suffered on Tuesday.

After Encarnacion led off the frame by blasting a 3-2 offeringfrom reliever Chad Qualls (4-3) off the brick facade in leftfield for a 2-1 lead, Bennett hit the very next pitch off thefoul poll.

Bennett added a two-run double off Dan Wheeler for an 8-1 lead.

Scott Spiezio, who was forced into action when Scott Rolen leftwith a leg injury in the third, had two hits and a pair of RBIfor the Cardinals.

Both teams were stymied by the starters as Roy Oswalt and AdamWainwright dueled for seven innings. Oswalt, who allowed sixruns in his last start, yielded just one unearned run and fourhits and four strikeouts.

Wainwright was he is equal allowing one run and four hits withsix strikeouts and four walks.

Ryan Franklin (2-0) relieved Wainwright and threw a scorelesseighth and Russ Springer pitched a scoreless ninth for theCardinals, who have won five of the seven meetings with Houstonthis season.

St. Louis got on the board in the fourth when Albert Pujols ledoff with a single and tried to take third on a sacrifice by JimEdmonds. Pujols' agressive play forced Lance Berkman tocommitted a throwing error on the play, allowing Pujols toscore.

Houston, which snapped a 10-game losing streak on Thursday, goteven in the sixth when Carlos Lee drove home a run with a doubleoff Wainwright.

Lee battled through a 14-pitch a-bat, fouling off nine, beforeconnecting on a double to center field that scored rookie HunterPence.

Pence had two hits for Houston, which has lost 11 of 12 and hasnot won two straight since winning four in a row from May 12-16.

The Cardinals also lost shortstop David Eckstein in the fifthwhen he was drilled in the elbow by a fastball from Oswalt.

 

Bennett, Cardinals use seven-run ninth inning to beat Astros

<h3>ST LOUIS 8, HOUSTON 1</h3>HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Gary Bennett is filling in just fine forYadier Molina.

Bennett homered and drove in three runs to spark a seven-runninth inning as the St. Louis Cardinals posted an 8-1 victoryover the Houston Astros on Friday.

In his third game catching in place of the injured Molina,Bennett followed Juan Encarnacion's tie-breaking homer with oneof his own and added a two-run double as the Cardinals sent 13men to the plate in the decisive inning.

Molina, the team's everyday catcher, is out four to six weekswith a broken right wrist suffered on Tuesday.

Bennett was as surprised as anyone about his big inning.

"Two hits in one inning?" Bennett said. "I probably haven't hadtwo at-bats in one inning since Little League, since I was 10or 11 years old.

"I just tried to go to the plate and make a good swing. All Iwas focusing on was having good at-bats. Adam (Wainwright) gaveus a great performance, and we couldn't waste it."

After Encarnacion led off the frame by blasting a 3-2 offeringfrom reliever Chad Qualls (4-3) off the brick facade in leftfield for a 2-1 lead, Bennett hit the very next pitch off thefoul poll.

Bennett added a two-run double off Dan Wheeler for an 8-1 leadto help St. Louis to its third straight win.

Scott Spiezio, who was forced into action when Scott Rolen leftwith a leg injury in the third, had two hits and a pair of RBIfor the Cardinals.

Ryan Franklin (2-0) relieved Wainwright and threw a scorelesseighth and Russ Springer pitched a scoreless ninth for theCardinals, who have won five of the seven meetings with Houstonthis season.

Both teams were stymied by the starters as Roy Oswalt andWainwright dueled for seven innings.

Oswalt, who allowed six runs in his last start, yielded just oneunearned run and four hits while striking out four. He retiredthe first eight hitters he faced before allowing a hit toWainwright.

The hard-throwing ace admitted it's draining to have to try andpitch when he knows one mistake may be the difference. TheAstros have scored more than three runs just three times intheir last 10 games.

"It's tough," Oswalt said. "Going out there and trying to throwperfect games is tough mentally. It's just hard to throw upzeros.

"You get out there, and you get in a situation where you feellike you have to throw a perfect game. ... You go out there andthrow up zeros every inning, and if you give up one or two it'san uphill battle the rest of the game."

Houston manager Phil Garner echoed his ace pitcher's sentiments

"I'm terribly disappointed in the way we played tonight," Garnersaid. "I keep saying it. I keep believing it. I think we're abetter offensive ballclub than we're showing. But we've got tostart showing it pretty soon here. Oswalt pitched well and wedidn't do anything for him."

<div class="pre">The Houston offense was held in check by Wainwright, who</div><div class="pre">allowed one run and four hits with six strikeouts and four</div>walks. The righthander struggled in the first, allowing adouble and two walks, but got out of the inning and did allowanother hit until the sixth.

"After the first inning, I felt fine," Wainwright said. "Irecognized my problem and was able to fix it pretty quick. Iknew Oswalt was going to deal - he always does - so you have tobe on top of your game. I knew I had to bring my A gametonight.

St. Louis got on the board in the fourth when Albert Pujols ledoff with a single and tried to take third on a sacrifice by JimEdmonds. Pujols' agressive play forced Lance Berkman tocommitted a throwing error on the play, allowing Pujols toscore.

Houston, which snapped a 10-game losing streak on Thursday, goteven in the sixth when Carlos Lee drove home a run with a doubleoff Wainwright.

Lee battled through a 14-pitch a-bat, fouling off nine, beforeconnecting on a double to center field that scored rookie HunterPence.

Pence had two hits for Houston, which has lost 11 of 12 and hasnot won two straight since winning four in a row from May 12-16.

The Cardinals also lost shortstop David Eckstein in the fifthwhen he was drilled in the elbow by a fastball from Oswalt.