GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: ST LOUIS (69-68) at ARIZONA (78-63)

NL: ST LOUIS (69-68) at ARIZONA (78-63)

<h3>Cardinals face Diamondbacks amid Ankiel controversy</h3>



<div class="pre">St Louis (68-68) at Arizona (78-63) 9:40 pm EDT</div>

PHOENIX (Ticker) - Rick Ankiel's transformation from pitcher toslugger took a huge twist on Thursday.


Ankiel and the St. Louis Cardinals open a three-game series withthe Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday amid a swirl of controversysurrounding the new-found basher.


Ankiel homered twice and drove in a career-high seven runs in a16-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday. However,later that night the New York Daily News reported that Ankielhad received human growth hormone from a pharmacy in Floridaduring the 2004 season.


Suffice to say, the focus will be on Ankiel more so than thefact that the Cardinals are battling for position in theNational League Central pennant race. St. Louis, which has wonfour of six, trails the first-place Chicago Cubs (71-68) andMilwaukee Brewers (71-68) by one game.


After scoring just eight runs in the first two games of theirseries with Pittsburgh, the Cardinals broke out in the finale,and will now face a slumping Brandon Webb.


Webb (14-10, 2.9 ERA), whose 42-inning scoreless streak ended onAugust 22, has lost two straight decisions, surrendering 10runs and 12 hits in his last 12 1/3 innings. Prior to this roughstretch, the reigning Cy Young Award winner had won sixstraight.


Meanwhile, Adam Wainwright (13-9, 3.78) is headed in theopposite direction of Webb, aiming for his third straight win.The former closer allowed two runs - one earned - and six hitsin 5 2/3 innings of an 11-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds onSaturday.


Arizona, which has already surpassed last season's win total of76, leads San Diego (76-63) by one game in the NL West.

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ARIZONA

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

ST LOUIS ARIZONA
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
David Eckstein SS .301 2 26 Stephen Drew SS .232 10 47
Rick Ankiel RF .358 9 29 Jeff Salazar RF .291 0 5
Albert Pujols 1B .316 30 85 Eric Byrnes LF .293 21 80
Jim Edmonds CF .245 9 42 Tony Clark 1B .238 13 42
Chris Duncan LF .262 21 70 Mark Reynolds 3B .269 12 49
Russell Branyan 3B .199 10 25 Chris Young CF .237 28 57
Yadier Molina C .280 6 36 Chris Snyder C .247 11 36
Adam Wainwright RHP .280 1 5 Augie Ojeda 2B .231 1 7
(13-9, 3.78) Brandon Webb RHP .081 0 2
Aaron Miles 2B .304 1 26 (14-10, 2.91)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">NL AT ARIZONA
WARMUPS: STL - ADAM WAINWRIGHT (13-9, 3.78)
ARI - BRANDON WEBB (14-10, 2.91)

UMPIRES: HP - LARRY PONCINO
1B - JIM WOLF
2B - JERRY MEALS
3B - GARY DARLING

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">NL AT ARIZONA
STARTING BATS: STL - ADAM WAINWRIGHT AND YADIER MOLINA
ARI - BRANDON WEBB AND CHRIS SNYDER

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: D ECKSTEIN (.301, 2 HR, 26 RBI)
R ANKIEL (.358, 9 HR, 29 RBI)
A PUJOLS (.316, 30 HR, 85 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ARIZONA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - ADAM WAINWRIGHT
ARI - BRANDON WEBB

DUE UP FOR ARIZONA: S DREW (.232, 10 HR, 47 RBI)
J SALAZAR (.291, 0 HR, 5 RBI)
E BYRNES (.293, 21 HR, 80 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS (0) VS ARIZONA (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 .300
R Ankiel rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .366
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
J Edmonds cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .245
C Duncan lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .261
R Branyan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .199
Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
A Wainwright p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
A Miles 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304

Totals 4 0 1 0 1 1 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Duncan 1. Team LOB - 2.


ARIZONA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Drew ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
J Salazar rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
E Byrnes lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
T Clark 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
M Reynolds 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
C Young cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
C Snyder c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
A Ojeda 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
B Webb p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .081

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 0 -- 0
ARIZONA - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
A Wainwright 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.78

ARIZONA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Webb 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 2.90

Pitches-strikes: B Webb 17-11. Ground balls-fly balls: B Webb 2-0. Batters
faced: B Webb 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Jim Wolf. 2B--Jerry Meals. 3B--Gary Darling.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">NL AT ARIZONA
CONFIRMED STARTERS: STL - ADAM WAINWRIGHT
ARI - BRANDON WEBB</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ARIZONA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - ADAM WAINWRIGHT
ARI - BRANDON WEBB

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: R BRANYAN (.199, 10 HR, 25 RBI)
Y MOLINA (.280, 6 HR, 36 RBI)
A WAINWRIGHT (.280, 1 HR, 5 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS (0) VS ARIZONA (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 .300
R Ankiel rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .366
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
J Edmonds cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .245
C Duncan lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .261
R Branyan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .199
Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
A Wainwright p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
A Miles 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304

Totals 4 0 1 0 1 1 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Duncan 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: E - D Eckstein (16, ground ball).


ARIZONA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Drew ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
J Salazar rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
E Byrnes lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
T Clark 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .242
M Reynolds 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .268
C Young cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
C Snyder c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
A Ojeda 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
B Webb p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .081

Totals 5 0 1 0 0 0 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Reynolds 1. Team LOB - 2.



----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 0 -- 0
ARIZONA - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
A Wainwright 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.76

ARIZONA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Webb 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 2.90

Pitches-strikes: A Wainwright 14-10; B Webb 17-11. Ground balls-fly balls: A
Wainwright 1-2; B Webb 2-0. Batters faced: A Wainwright 5; B Webb 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Jim Wolf. 2B--Jerry Meals. 3B--Gary Darling.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ARIZONA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - ADAM WAINWRIGHT
ARI - BRANDON WEBB

DUE UP FOR ARIZONA: C YOUNG (.237, 28 HR, 57 RBI)
C SNYDER (.247, 11 HR, 36 RBI)
A OJEDA (.231, 1 HR, 7 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ARIZONA

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

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
R Ankiel rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .366
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
J Edmonds cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .245
C Duncan lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .261
R Branyan 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .197
Y Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
A Wainwright p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .275
A Miles 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304

Totals 7 0 1 0 1 3 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Duncan 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: E - D Eckstein (16, ground ball).


ARIZONA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Drew ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
J Salazar rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
E Byrnes lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
T Clark 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .242
M Reynolds 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .268
C Young cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
C Snyder c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
A Ojeda 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
B Webb p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .081

Totals 5 0 1 0 0 0 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Reynolds 1. Team LOB - 2.



----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 00 -- 0
ARIZONA - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
A Wainwright 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.76

ARIZONA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Webb 2 1 0 0 1 3 0 2.88

Pitches-strikes: A Wainwright 14-10; B Webb 29-19. Ground balls-fly balls: A
Wainwright 1-2; B Webb 2-1. Batters faced: A Wainwright 5; B Webb 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Jim Wolf. 2B--Jerry Meals. 3B--Gary Darling.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">NL AT ARIZONA - SCORING UPDATE
ERROR BY RUSSELL BRANYAN ALLOWED AUGIE OJEDA TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, B WEBB ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 0
ARIZONA 1 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR ARIZONA: S DREW (.232, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ARIZONA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - ADAM WAINWRIGHT
ARI - BRANDON WEBB

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A MILES (.304, 1 HR, 26 RBI)
D ECKSTEIN (.300, 0-FOR-1)
R ANKIEL (.366, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ARIZONA

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

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
R Ankiel rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .366
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
J Edmonds cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .245
C Duncan lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .261
R Branyan 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .197
Y Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
A Wainwright p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .275
A Miles 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304

Totals 7 0 1 0 1 3 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Duncan 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: E - D Eckstein (16, ground ball); R Branyan (2, throw). DP: 1 (R
Branyan-A Miles-A Pujols).


ARIZONA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Drew ss 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .231
J Salazar rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
E Byrnes lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
T Clark 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .242
M Reynolds 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .268
C Young cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .238
C Snyder c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .246
A Ojeda 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .242
B Webb p 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .079

Totals 10 1 3 0 0 1 5

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - S Drew 1, M Reynolds 1. GIDP
- C Snyder. Team LOB - 3.


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 00 -- 0
ARIZONA - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
A Wainwright 2 3 1 0 0 1 0 3.74

ARIZONA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Webb 2 1 0 0 1 3 0 2.88

Pitches-strikes: A Wainwright 37-24; B Webb 29-19. Ground balls-fly balls: A
Wainwright 3-2; B Webb 2-1. Batters faced: A Wainwright 10; B Webb 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Jim Wolf. 2B--Jerry Meals. 3B--Gary Darling.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ARIZONA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - ADAM WAINWRIGHT
ARI - BRANDON WEBB

DUE UP FOR ARIZONA: J SALAZAR (.286, 0-FOR-1)
E BYRNES (.293, 0-FOR-1)
T CLARK (.242, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS (0) VS ARIZONA (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
R Ankiel rf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .361
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
J Edmonds cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .245
C Duncan lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .261
R Branyan 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .197
Y Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
A Wainwright p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .275
A Miles 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303

Totals 10 0 1 0 1 3 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Duncan 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: E - D Eckstein (16, ground ball); R Branyan (2, throw). DP: 1 (R
Branyan-A Miles-A Pujols).


ARIZONA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Drew ss 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .231
J Salazar rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
E Byrnes lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
T Clark 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .242
M Reynolds 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .268
C Young cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .238
C Snyder c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .246
A Ojeda 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .242
B Webb p 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .079

Totals 10 1 3 0 0 1 5

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - S Drew 1, M Reynolds 1. GIDP
- C Snyder. Team LOB - 3.


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 000 -- 0
ARIZONA - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
A Wainwright 2 3 1 0 0 1 0 3.74

ARIZONA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Webb 3 1 0 0 1 3 0 2.87

Pitches-strikes: A Wainwright 37-24; B Webb 36-25. Ground balls-fly balls: A
Wainwright 3-2; B Webb 4-2. Batters faced: A Wainwright 10; B Webb 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Jim Wolf. 2B--Jerry Meals. 3B--Gary Darling.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ARIZONA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - ADAM WAINWRIGHT
ARI - BRANDON WEBB

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A PUJOLS (.316, 0-FOR-1)
J EDMONDS (.245, 0-FOR-0, BB)
C DUNCAN (.261, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS (0) VS ARIZONA (1) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
R Ankiel rf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .361
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
J Edmonds cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .245
C Duncan lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .261
R Branyan 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .197
Y Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
A Wainwright p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .275
A Miles 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303

Totals 10 0 1 0 1 3 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Duncan 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: E - D Eckstein (16, ground ball); R Branyan (2, throw). DP: 2 (R
Branyan-A Miles-A Pujols, D Eckstein-A Pujols-R Branyan).


ARIZONA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Drew ss 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .231
J Salazar rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
E Byrnes lf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .294
T Clark 1b 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .240
M Reynolds 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .268
C Young cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .238
C Snyder c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .246
A Ojeda 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .242
B Webb p 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .079

Totals 13 1 4 0 0 1 6

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - S Drew 1, M Reynolds 1. GIDP
- C Snyder. Team LOB - 3.


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 000 -- 0
ARIZONA - 010 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
A Wainwright 3 4 1 0 0 1 0 3.72

ARIZONA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Webb 3 1 0 0 1 3 0 2.87

Pitches-strikes: A Wainwright 48-31; B Webb 36-25. Ground balls-fly balls: A
Wainwright 5-2; B Webb 4-2. Batters faced: A Wainwright 13; B Webb 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Jim Wolf. 2B--Jerry Meals. 3B--Gary Darling.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">NL AT ARIZONA - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY JIM EDMONDS (10) TO LEFT WITH 1 OUT IN THE
4TH OFF BRANDON WEBB.
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 1, ARIZONA 1

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: C DUNCAN (.261, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at ARIZONA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - ADAM WAINWRIGHT
ARI - BRANDON WEBB

DUE UP FOR ARIZONA: M REYNOLDS (.268, 0-FOR-1)
C YOUNG (.238, 1-FOR-1)
C SNYDER (.246, 0-FOR-1)</div>