GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: ST LOUIS (42-48) at FLORIDA (45-49)

NL: ST LOUIS (42-48) at FLORIDA (45-49)

<h3>Struggling Willis to start against Cardinals</h3>

St Louis (42-48) at Florida (45-49) 7:05 pm EDT


MIAMI (Ticker) -- A pair of struggling pitchers will take themound when the Florida Marlins host the St. Louis Cardinals onWednesday in the finale of a three-game series.


Dontrelle Willis (7-8, 4.81 ERA) has been winless in his lasteight starts despite not giving up more than four earned runs inany of those outings.


The 25-year-old lefthander allowed eight runs - three earned -and eight hits with three walks over just 3 2/3 innings in a14-10 loss to the Washington Nationals on Friday.


He will be opposed by Kip Wells (3-12, 6.25), who will hope notto add to his major league-leading loss total.


The 30-year-old Wells, who has not won as a starter since May23, was tagged for six runs - four earned - and eight hits in a13-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday.


Behind five solid innings by rookie Rick Vanden Hurk, theMarlins won for the third time in four games with a 4-0 victoryon Tuesday.


The defending World Series champions are in third place in theNational League Central, 9 1/2 games behind the division-leadingMilwaukee Brewers.

 

NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA

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

ST LOUIS FLORIDA
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
David Eckstein SS .304 2 13 Hanley Ramirez SS .332 15 39
So Taguchi CF .293 2 15 Alfredo Amezaga 2B .278 2 23
Albert Pujols 1B .315 20 57 Miguel Cabrera 3B .326 22 66
Juan Encarnacion RF .267 7 29 Mike Jacobs 1B .282 6 19
Ryan Ludwick LF .260 7 23 Josh Willingham LF .256 14 60
Yadier Molina C .263 1 15 Jeremy Hermida RF .246 9 30
Aaron Miles 2B .280 0 14 Miguel Olivo C .243 7 37
Brendan Ryan 3B .262 2 5 Eric Reed CF .118 0 0
Kip Wells RHP .310 1 2 Dontrelle Willis LHP .167 0 1
(3-12, 6.25) (7-8, 4.81)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">NL AT FLORIDA
WARMUPS: STL - KIP WELLS (3-12, 6.25)
FLA - DONTRELLE WILLIS (7-8, 4.81)

UMPIRES: HP - ED HICKOX
1B - C.B. BUCKNOR
2B - JOE WEST
3B - ED RAPUANO

WEATHER: 88 Degrees, clear
WIND: 13 mph, in from right</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">NL AT FLORIDA
STARTING BATS: STL - KIP WELLS AND YADIER MOLINA
FLA - DONTRELLE WILLIS AND MIGUEL OLIVO

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: D ECKSTEIN (.304, 2 HR, 13 RBI)
S TAGUCHI (.293, 2 HR, 15 RBI)
A PUJOLS (.315, 20 HR, 57 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">NL AT FLORIDA - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY ALBERT PUJOLS SCORED SO TAGUCHI.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A PUJOLS ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 1
FLORIDA 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: J ENCARNACION (.267, 7 HR, 29 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">NL AT FLORIDA - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY JUAN ENCARNACION SCORED ALBERT PUJOLS.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J ENCARNACION ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 2
FLORIDA 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: R LUDWICK (.260, 7 HR, 23 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - KIP WELLS
FLA - DONTRELLE WILLIS

DUE UP FOR FLORIDA: H RAMIREZ (.332, 15 HR, 39 RBI)
A AMEZAGA (.278, 2 HR, 23 RBI)
M CABRERA (.326, 22 HR, 66 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS (2) VS FLORIDA (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
S Taguchi cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .296
A Pujols 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .317
J Encarnacion rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .271
R Ludwick lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .258
Y Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .262
A Miles 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
B Ryan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262
K Wells p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310

Totals 6 2 3 2 0 2 2

BATTING: 2B - A Pujols (18, D Willis); J Encarnacion (14, D Willis). RBI - A
Pujols (58), J Encarnacion (30). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Y
Molina 1. Team LOB - 1.


FLORIDA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Ramirez ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .332
A Amezaga 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
M Cabrera 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326
M Jacobs 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
J Willingham lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
J Hermida rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
M Olivo c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
E Reed cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .118
D Willis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 2 -- 2
FLORIDA - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Wells 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.25

FLORIDA ip h r er bb so hr era
D Willis 1 3 2 2 0 2 0 4.92

WP - D Willis. Pitches-strikes: D Willis 24-15. Ground balls-fly balls: D
Willis 0-1. Batters faced: D Willis 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--C.B. Bucknor. 2B--Joe West. 3B--Ed Rapuano.

Weather: 88 degrees, clear. Wind: 13 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">NL AT FLORIDA
CONFIRMED STARTERS: STL - KIP WELLS
FLA - DONTRELLE WILLIS</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - KIP WELLS
FLA - DONTRELLE WILLIS

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A MILES (.280, 0 HR, 14 RBI)
B RYAN (.262, 2 HR, 5 RBI)
K WELLS (.310, 1 HR, 2 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA

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

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
S Taguchi cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .296
A Pujols 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .317
J Encarnacion rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .271
R Ludwick lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .258
Y Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .262
A Miles 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
B Ryan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262
K Wells p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310

Totals 6 2 3 2 0 2 2

BATTING: 2B - A Pujols (18, D Willis); J Encarnacion (14, D Willis). RBI - A
Pujols (58), J Encarnacion (30). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Y
Molina 1. Team LOB - 1.


FLORIDA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Ramirez ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .331
A Amezaga 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
M Cabrera 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .326
M Jacobs 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .280
J Willingham lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
J Hermida rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
M Olivo c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
E Reed cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .118
D Willis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 0 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 2 -- 2
FLORIDA - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Wells 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 6.18

FLORIDA ip h r er bb so hr era
D Willis 1 3 2 2 0 2 0 4.92

WP - D Willis. Pitches-strikes: K Wells 15-9; D Willis 24-15. Ground
balls-fly balls: K Wells 1-2; D Willis 0-1. Batters faced: K Wells 4; D Willis
6.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--C.B. Bucknor. 2B--Joe West. 3B--Ed Rapuano.

Weather: 88 degrees, clear. Wind: 13 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">NL AT FLORIDA - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY SO TAGUCHI SCORED AARON MILES AND BRENDAN RYAN.

SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, S TAGUCHI ON SECOND, D ECKSTEIN ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 4
FLORIDA 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A PUJOLS (.317, 1-FOR-1, RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">NL AT FLORIDA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JUAN ENCARNACION SCORED DAVID ECKSTEIN AND SO
TAGUCHI.
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, J ENCARNACION ON FIRST, A PUJOLS ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 6
FLORIDA 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: R LUDWICK (.258, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - KIP WELLS
FLA - DONTRELLE WILLIS

DUE UP FOR FLORIDA: J WILLINGHAM (.256, 14 HR, 60 RBI)
J HERMIDA (.246, 9 HR, 30 RBI)
M OLIVO (.243, 7 HR, 37 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS (6) VS FLORIDA (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .306
S Taguchi cf 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 .300
A Pujols 1b 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 .317
J Encarnacion rf 2 0 2 3 0 0 0 .275
R Ludwick lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 .256
Y Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .262
A Miles 2b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .280
B Ryan 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .279
K Wells p 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .300

Totals 12 6 7 6 2 3 6

BATTING: 2B - A Pujols (18, D Willis); J Encarnacion (14, D Willis); S Taguchi
(11, D Willis). RBI - A Pujols (58), J Encarnacion 3 (32), S Taguchi 2 (17).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Y Molina 1. Team LOB - 2.


FLORIDA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Ramirez ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .331
A Amezaga 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
M Cabrera 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .326
M Jacobs 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .280
J Willingham lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
J Hermida rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
M Olivo c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
E Reed cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .118
D Willis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 0 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (D Willis-M Jacobs-M Olivo).


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 24 -- 6
FLORIDA - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Wells 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 6.18

FLORIDA ip h r er bb so hr era
D Willis 2 7 6 6 2 3 0 5.17

WP - D Willis. IBB - A Pujols (by D Willis). Pitches-strikes: K Wells 15-9; D
Willis 54-29. Ground balls-fly balls: K Wells 1-2; D Willis 1-1. Batters faced:
K Wells 4; D Willis 14.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--C.B. Bucknor. 2B--Joe West. 3B--Ed Rapuano.

Weather: 88 degrees, clear. Wind: 13 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - KIP WELLS
FLA - DONTRELLE WILLIS

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: Y MOLINA (.262, 0-FOR-1)
A MILES (.280, 0-FOR-0, BB)
B RYAN (.279, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS (6) VS FLORIDA (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .306
S Taguchi cf 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 .300
A Pujols 1b 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 .317
J Encarnacion rf 2 0 2 3 0 0 0 .275
R Ludwick lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 .256
Y Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .262
A Miles 2b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .280
B Ryan 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .279
K Wells p 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .300

Totals 12 6 7 6 2 3 6

BATTING: 2B - A Pujols (18, D Willis); J Encarnacion (14, D Willis); S Taguchi
(11, D Willis). RBI - A Pujols (58), J Encarnacion 3 (32), S Taguchi 2 (17).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Y Molina 1. Team LOB - 2.

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


FLORIDA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Ramirez ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .331
A Amezaga 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
M Cabrera 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .326
M Jacobs 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .280
J Willingham lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .258
J Hermida rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .245
M Olivo c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
E Reed cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .118
D Willis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167

Totals 6 0 1 0 1 0 2

BATTING: GIDP - J Hermida. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (D Willis-M Jacobs-M Olivo).


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 24 -- 6
FLORIDA - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Wells 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 6.11

FLORIDA ip h r er bb so hr era
D Willis 2 7 6 6 2 3 0 5.17

WP - D Willis. IBB - A Pujols (by D Willis). Pitches-strikes: K Wells 22-14;
D Willis 54-29. Ground balls-fly balls: K Wells 4-2; D Willis 1-1. Batters
faced: K Wells 7; D Willis 14.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--C.B. Bucknor. 2B--Joe West. 3B--Ed Rapuano.

Weather: 88 degrees, clear. Wind: 13 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - KIP WELLS
FLA - DONTRELLE WILLIS

DUE UP FOR FLORIDA: E REED (.118, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
D WILLIS (.167, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
H RAMIREZ (.331, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS (6) VS FLORIDA (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .306
S Taguchi cf 3 2 2 2 0 0 3 .299
A Pujols 1b 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 .317
J Encarnacion rf 2 0 2 3 0 0 0 .275
R Ludwick lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 .256
Y Molina c 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .260
A Miles 2b 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 .283
B Ryan 3b 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 .295
K Wells p 2 0 0 0 0 2 4 .290

Totals 17 6 9 6 2 4 11

BATTING: 2B - A Pujols (18, D Willis); J Encarnacion (14, D Willis); S Taguchi
(11, D Willis). RBI - A Pujols (58), J Encarnacion 3 (32), S Taguchi 2 (17).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - S Taguchi 2, Y Molina 1. Team LOB -
5.

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


FLORIDA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
H Ramirez ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .331
A Amezaga 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
M Cabrera 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .326
M Jacobs 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .280
J Willingham lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .258
J Hermida rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .245
M Olivo c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
E Reed cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .118
D Willis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167

Totals 6 0 1 0 1 0 2

BATTING: GIDP - J Hermida. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (D Willis-M Jacobs-M Olivo).


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 240 -- 6
FLORIDA - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Wells 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 6.11

FLORIDA ip h r er bb so hr era
D Willis 3 9 6 6 2 4 0 5.13

WP - D Willis. IBB - A Pujols (by D Willis). HBP - D Eckstein (by D Willis).
Pitches-strikes: K Wells 22-14; D Willis 74-42. Ground balls-fly balls: K Wells
4-2; D Willis 3-1. Batters faced: K Wells 7; D Willis 20.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--C.B. Bucknor. 2B--Joe West. 3B--Ed Rapuano.

Weather: 88 degrees, clear. Wind: 13 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at FLORIDA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - KIP WELLS
FLA - DONTRELLE WILLIS

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A PUJOLS (.317, 1-FOR-1, BB, RBI)
J ENCARNACION (.275, 2-FOR-2, 3 RBI)
R LUDWICK (.256, 0-FOR-2)</div>