GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: ST LOUIS (74-84) at NY METS (87-71)

NL: ST LOUIS (74-84) at NY METS (87-71)

<h3>Martinez, Mets hope to stop late-season slide</h3>



St Louis (74-84) at NY Mets (87-71), 7:10 pm EDT


FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- Coming off a three-game sweep atthe hands of the lowly Washington Nationals, the New York Metshave no room for error as they head towards the final weekend ofthe regular season.


New York hopes to turn things around as they send Pedro Martinezto the mound against the St. Louis Cardinals - the team thateliminated them in the 2006 NLCS - in a makeup game on Thursday.

The Mets hold a one-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies(86-72) in the National League East, which is the closest theMets have been to second place since May 16 when they were justone-half game ahead.


It would be a monumental collapse for the Mets, who held aseven-game advantage on September 12. New York is just 4-9 sincethat day, while the Phillies have been surging with a 10-3record over that span.


Martinez (3-0, 2.57 ERA) has pitched well since returning to theMets rotation on September 3 after off-season shoulder surgery.The three-time Cy Young award winner has allowed only sixearned runs in 21 innings over his four starts.


He was victorious in his last start on Friday against Florida,giving up four runs in five innings. The veteran righthanderallowed eight hits and two walks but struck out seven.

He will be opposed by Joel Pineiro (5-4, 4.53). The 29-year-oldrighthander was acquired by the Cardinals from the Boston RedSox at the trade deadline in late July and has pitched admirablyin his return to being a starter.


Pineiro was defeated in his last start on Friday againstHouston. He went 5 2/3 innings, giving up three runs and eighthits with three walks and four strikeouts.


New York has defeated the defending World Champion Cardinals infive of their six meetings this season.

 

NL: ST LOUIS at NY METS

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

ST LOUIS NY METS
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
David Eckstein SS .307 3 30 Jose Reyes SS .285 12 57
Rick Ankiel CF .276 10 36 Luis Castillo 2B .286 1 18
Albert Pujols 1B .325 32 100 David Wright 3B .321 30 105
Ryan Ludwick RF .270 14 51 Carlos Beltran CF .278 32 109
Skip Schumaker LF .319 2 16 Moises Alou LF .347 13 47
Miguel Cairo 3B .271 0 5 Carlos Delgado 1B .254 24 85
Kelly Stinnett C .176 1 5 Paul Lo Duca C .276 9 54
Joel Pineiro RHP .067 0 0 Shawn Green RF .289 10 46
(5-4, 4.53) Pedro Martinez RHP .143 0 0
Aaron Miles 2B .298 2 32 (3-0, 2.57)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at NY METS

<div class="pre">NL AT NY METS
WARMUPS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO (5-4, 4.53)
NYM - PEDRO MARTINEZ (3-0, 2.57)

UMPIRES: HP - LAZ DIAZ
1B - WALLY BELL
2B - BILL WELKE
3B - MIKE ESTABROOK

WEATHER: 76 Degrees, overcast
WIND: 12 mph, right to left</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at NY METS

<div class="pre">NL AT NY METS
STARTING BATS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO AND KELLY STINNETT
NYM - PEDRO MARTINEZ AND PAUL LO DUCA

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: D ECKSTEIN (.307, 3 HR, 30 RBI)
R ANKIEL (.276, 10 HR, 36 RBI)
A PUJOLS (.325, 32 HR, 100 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at NY METS

<div class="pre">NL AT NY METS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY SKIP SCHUMAKER SCORED DAVID ECKSTEIN.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, S SCHUMAKER ON FIRST, A PUJOLS ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 1
NY METS 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: M CAIRO (.271, 0 HR, 5 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at NY METS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO
NYM - PEDRO MARTINEZ

DUE UP FOR NY METS: J REYES (.285, 12 HR, 57 RBI)
L CASTILLO (.286, 1 HR, 18 RBI)
D WRIGHT (.321, 30 HR, 105 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at NY METS

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

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .309
R Ankiel cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .274
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .325
R Ludwick rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .269
S Schumaker lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .323
M Cairo 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .267
K Stinnett c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .176
J Pineiro p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .067
A Miles 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298

Totals 6 1 2 1 0 2 5

BATTING: RBI - S Schumaker (17). 2-out RBI - S Schumaker. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - M Cairo 1. Team LOB - 2.


NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Reyes ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
L Castillo 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
D Wright 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321
C Beltran cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
M Alou lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .347
C Delgado 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
P Lo Duca c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
S Green rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
P Martinez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - L Castillo (2, ground ball).


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 1 -- 1
NY METS - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Pineiro 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.53

NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era
P Martinez 1 2 1 0 0 2 0 2.45

Pitches-strikes: P Martinez 24-15. Ground balls-fly balls: P Martinez 1-1.
Batters faced: P Martinez 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Laz Diaz. 1B--Wally Bell. 2B--Bill Welke. 3B--Mike Estabrook.

Weather: 76 degrees, overcast. Wind: 12 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at NY METS

<div class="pre">NL AT NY METS
CONFIRMED STARTERS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO
NYM - PEDRO MARTINEZ</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at NY METS

<div class="pre">NL ST LOUIS AT NY METS
NOTE: NEW YORK THIRD BASEMAN DAVID WRIGHT EXTENDED HIS
HITTING STREAK TO 14 GAMES WITH A DOUBLE IN THE FIRST INNING.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at NY METS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO
NYM - PEDRO MARTINEZ

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: K STINNETT (.176, 1 HR, 5 RBI)
J PINEIRO (.067, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
A MILES (.298, 2 HR, 32 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at NY METS

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

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .309
R Ankiel cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .274
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .325
R Ludwick rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .269
S Schumaker lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .323
M Cairo 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .267
K Stinnett c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .176
J Pineiro p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .067
A Miles 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298

Totals 6 1 2 1 0 2 5

BATTING: RBI - S Schumaker (17). 2-out RBI - S Schumaker. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - M Cairo 1. Team LOB - 2.


NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Reyes ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .285
L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
D Wright 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .323
C Beltran cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .277
M Alou lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .347
C Delgado 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
P Lo Duca c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
S Green rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
P Martinez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: 2B - D Wright (42, J Pineiro). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- C Beltran 1. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - L Castillo (2, ground ball).


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 1 -- 1
NY METS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Pineiro 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.45

NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era
P Martinez 1 2 1 0 0 2 0 2.45

Pitches-strikes: J Pineiro 10-7; P Martinez 24-15. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Pineiro 2-0; P Martinez 1-1. Batters faced: J Pineiro 4; P Martinez 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Laz Diaz. 1B--Wally Bell. 2B--Bill Welke. 3B--Mike Estabrook.

Weather: 76 degrees, overcast. Wind: 12 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at NY METS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO
NYM - PEDRO MARTINEZ

DUE UP FOR NY METS: M ALOU (.347, 13 HR, 47 RBI)
C DELGADO (.254, 24 HR, 85 RBI)
P LO DUCA (.276, 9 HR, 54 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at NY METS

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

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .309
R Ankiel cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .274
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .325
R Ludwick rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .269
S Schumaker lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .323
M Cairo 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .267
K Stinnett c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .173
J Pineiro p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .063
A Miles 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297

Totals 9 1 2 1 0 3 5

BATTING: RBI - S Schumaker (17). 2-out RBI - S Schumaker. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - M Cairo 1. Team LOB - 2.


NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Reyes ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .285
L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
D Wright 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .323
C Beltran cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .277
M Alou lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .347
C Delgado 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
P Lo Duca c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
S Green rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
P Martinez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: 2B - D Wright (42, J Pineiro). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- C Beltran 1. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - L Castillo (2, ground ball).


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 10 -- 1
NY METS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Pineiro 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.45

NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era
P Martinez 2 2 1 0 0 3 0 2.35

Pitches-strikes: J Pineiro 10-7; P Martinez 31-21. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Pineiro 2-0; P Martinez 2-2. Batters faced: J Pineiro 4; P Martinez 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Laz Diaz. 1B--Wally Bell. 2B--Bill Welke. 3B--Mike Estabrook.

Weather: 76 degrees, overcast. Wind: 12 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at NY METS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO
NYM - PEDRO MARTINEZ

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: D ECKSTEIN (.309, 1-FOR-1)
R ANKIEL (.274, 0-FOR-1)
A PUJOLS (.325, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at NY METS

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

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .309
R Ankiel cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .274
A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .325
R Ludwick rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .269
S Schumaker lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .323
M Cairo 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .267
K Stinnett c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .173
J Pineiro p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .063
A Miles 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297

Totals 9 1 2 1 0 3 5

BATTING: RBI - S Schumaker (17). 2-out RBI - S Schumaker. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - M Cairo 1. Team LOB - 2.


NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Reyes ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .285
L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
D Wright 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .323
C Beltran cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .277
M Alou lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .346
C Delgado 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
P Lo Duca c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
S Green rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
P Martinez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: 2B - D Wright (42, J Pineiro). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- C Beltran 1. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - L Castillo (2, ground ball).


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 10 -- 1
NY METS - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Pineiro 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.37

NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era
P Martinez 2 2 1 0 0 3 0 2.35

Pitches-strikes: J Pineiro 19-12; P Martinez 31-21. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Pineiro 3-2; P Martinez 2-2. Batters faced: J Pineiro 7; P Martinez 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Laz Diaz. 1B--Wally Bell. 2B--Bill Welke. 3B--Mike Estabrook.

Weather: 76 degrees, overcast. Wind: 12 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at NY METS

<div class="pre">NL AT NY METS - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY ALBERT PUJOLS SCORED RICK ANKIEL.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A PUJOLS ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 2
NY METS 0 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: R LUDWICK (.269, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at NY METS

<div class="pre">NL AT NY METS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY RYAN LUDWICK SCORED ALBERT PUJOLS.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, R LUDWICK ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 3
NY METS 0 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: S SCHUMAKER (.323, 1-FOR-1, RBI)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at NY METS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO
NYM - PEDRO MARTINEZ

DUE UP FOR NY METS: S GREEN (.289, 10 HR, 46 RBI)
P MARTINEZ (.143, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
J REYES (.285, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at NY METS

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS (3) VS NY METS (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 .308
R Ankiel cf 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .278
A Pujols 1b 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 .326
R Ludwick rf 2 0 1 1 0 1 2 .271
S Schumaker lf 2 0 1 1 0 1 1 .321
M Cairo 3b 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 .262
K Stinnett c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .173
J Pineiro p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .063
A Miles 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297

Totals 15 3 5 3 0 4 7

BATTING: 2B - A Pujols (35, P Martinez). RBI - S Schumaker (17), A Pujols
(101), R Ludwick (52). 2-out RBI - S Schumaker. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - M Cairo 2. Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - R Ludwick (4, 2nd base off P Martinez/P Lo Duca).


NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Reyes ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .285
L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
D Wright 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .323
C Beltran cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .277
M Alou lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .346
C Delgado 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
P Lo Duca c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
S Green rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
P Martinez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: 2B - D Wright (42, J Pineiro). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- C Beltran 1. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - L Castillo (2, ground ball).


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 102 -- 3
NY METS - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Pineiro 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.37

NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era
P Martinez 3 5 3 2 0 4 0 3.00

Pitches-strikes: J Pineiro 19-12; P Martinez 52-35. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Pineiro 3-2; P Martinez 3-3. Batters faced: J Pineiro 7; P Martinez 15.

UMPIRES: HP--Laz Diaz. 1B--Wally Bell. 2B--Bill Welke. 3B--Mike Estabrook.

Weather: 76 degrees, overcast. Wind: 12 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at NY METS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO
NYM - PEDRO MARTINEZ

DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: K STINNETT (.173, 0-FOR-1)
J PINEIRO (.063, 0-FOR-1)
A MILES (.297, 0-FOR-1)</div>