NL: ST LOUIS (63-64) at HOUSTON (58-73) <h3>Astros play first game under Cooper</h3> <div class="pre">St. Louis (63-64) at Houston (58-73) 8:05 pm EDT</div> HOUSTON (Ticker) - With their inconsistent play costing theirmanager and general manager their jobs, the Houston Astros lookto start anew when they begin a three-game set with the St.Louis Cardinals on Tuesday. The Astros fired manager Phil Garner and general manager TimPurpura on Monday.To fill their places, Houston appointed benchcoach Cecil Cooper as interim manager and team president TalSmith as interim general manager. After his own slow start to the season, Woody Williams (8-12,4.84 ERA) is looking to win his fourth straight decision. Going3-10 with a 5.58 ERA through the end of June, the righthanderhas gone 5-2 with a 3.71 ERA since. In his last start on Wednesday - a 3-2 victory over Washington -Williams allowed two runs and six hits over 6 1/3 innings,striking out eight. Williams, who pitched for the Cardinalsfrom 2001-2004, is 1-3 with a 5.25 ERA in three starts againsthis former team. His opponent on the mound will be Braden Looper (10-10, 4.90),who has been solid himself lately, going 1-1 with a 2.50 ERAover his last three turns. Looper is 5-2 with a 2.33 ERA and four saves in 32 career games- two starts - against the Astros. St. Louis, which is trying to get back to .500, is two gamesbehind Chicago (66-63) in the National League Central.
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ST LOUIS AT HOUSTON -- LINEUPS ST LOUIS HOUSTON AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI David Eckstein SS .295 2 24 Craig Biggio 2B .252 10 46 Rick Ankiel RF .273 4 9 Hunter Pence CF .321 12 46 Albert Pujols 1B .319 30 84 Lance Berkman 1B .272 24 82 Jim Edmonds CF .254 9 37 Carlos Lee LF .307 26 102 Chris Duncan LF .268 20 62 Ty Wigginton 3B .267 3 9 Scott Rolen 3B .265 8 57 Luke Scott RF .257 14 56 Yadier Molina C .280 4 30 Mark Loretta SS .279 2 32 Braden Looper RHP .200 0 5 Brad Ausmus C .233 3 22 (10-10, 4.90) Woody Williams RHP .077 1 2 Aaron Miles 2B .295 1 23 (8-12, 4.84)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON WARMUPS: STL - BRADEN LOOPER (10-10, 4.90) HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS (8-12, 4.84) UMPIRES: HP - JAMES HOYE 1B - TIM TSCHIDA 2B - JIM JOYCE 3B - JIM WOLF WEATHER: INDOORS</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON STARTING BATS: STL - BRADEN LOOPER AND YADIER MOLINA HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS AND BRAD AUSMUS DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: D ECKSTEIN (.295, 2 HR, 24 RBI) R ANKIEL (.273, 4 HR, 9 RBI) A PUJOLS (.319, 30 HR, 84 RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY CHRIS DUNCAN (21) TO RIGHT WITH 2 OUT IN THE 1ST OFF WOODY WILLIAMS SCORED RICK ANKIEL AND JIM EDMONDS. CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 3, HOUSTON 0 DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: S ROLEN (.265, 8 HR, 57 RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ST LOUIS 3 3 3 0 HOUSTON 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - BRADEN LOOPER HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C BIGGIO (.252, 10 HR, 46 RBI) H PENCE (.321, 12 HR, 46 RBI) L BERKMAN (.272, 24 HR, 82 RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (3) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .294 R Ankiel rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .289 A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .318 J Edmonds cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .257 C Duncan lf 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 .271 S Rolen 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265 Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280 B Looper p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 A Miles 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 Totals 6 3 3 3 0 1 1 BATTING: HR - C Duncan (21, 1st inning off W Williams 2 on, 2 Out). RBI - C Duncan 3 (65). 2-out RBI - C Duncan 3. Team LOB - 0. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Biggio 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252 H Pence cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321 L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272 C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307 T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267 L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257 M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279 B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233 W Williams p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .077 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 3 -- 3 HOUSTON - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era B Looper 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.90 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era W Williams 1 3 3 3 0 1 1 4.98 Pitches-strikes: W Williams 28-18. Ground balls-fly balls: W Williams 1-1. Batters faced: W Williams 6. UMPIRES: HP--James Hoye. 1B--Tim Tschida. 2B--Jim Joyce. 3B--Jim Wolf. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON CONFIRMED STARTERS: STL - BRADEN LOOPER HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ST LOUIS 3 3 3 0 HOUSTON 0 0 1 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - BRADEN LOOPER HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: Y MOLINA (.280, 4 HR, 30 RBI) B LOOPER (.200, 0 HR, 5 RBI) A MILES (.295, 1 HR, 23 RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (3) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .294 R Ankiel rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .289 A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .318 J Edmonds cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .257 C Duncan lf 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 .271 S Rolen 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265 Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280 B Looper p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 A Miles 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 Totals 6 3 3 3 0 1 1 BATTING: HR - C Duncan (21, 1st inning off W Williams 2 on, 2 Out). RBI - C Duncan 3 (65). 2-out RBI - C Duncan 3. Team LOB - 0. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Biggio 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .254 H Pence cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .321 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .272 C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .306 T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .263 L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257 M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279 B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233 W Williams p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .077 Totals 4 0 1 0 1 2 6 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Wigginton 1. Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 3 -- 3 HOUSTON - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era B Looper 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 4.86 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era W Williams 1 3 3 3 0 1 1 4.98 Pitches-strikes: B Looper 21-11; W Williams 28-18. Ground balls-fly balls: B Looper 0-1; W Williams 1-1. Batters faced: B Looper 5; W Williams 6. UMPIRES: HP--James Hoye. 1B--Tim Tschida. 2B--Jim Joyce. 3B--Jim Wolf. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE DOUBLE BY AARON MILES SCORED YADIER MOLINA. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A MILES ON SECOND, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 4 HOUSTON 0 TOP, 2ND DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: D ECKSTEIN (.294, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ST LOUIS 3 1 4 5 0 HOUSTON 0 0 1 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - BRADEN LOOPER HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: L SCOTT (.257, 14 HR, 56 RBI) M LORETTA (.279, 2 HR, 32 RBI) B AUSMUS (.233, 3 HR, 22 RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (4) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .293 R Ankiel rf 2 1 1 0 0 1 1 .283 A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .318 J Edmonds cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .257 C Duncan lf 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 .271 S Rolen 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265 Y Molina c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .283 B Looper p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 A Miles 2b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .297 Totals 10 4 5 4 0 2 3 BATTING: 2B - A Miles (12, W Williams). HR - C Duncan (21, 1st inning off W Williams 2 on, 2 Out). S - B Looper. RBI - C Duncan 3 (65), A Miles (24). 2-out RBI - C Duncan 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Ankiel 1. Team LOB - 1. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Biggio 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .254 H Pence cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .321 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .272 C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .306 T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .263 L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257 M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279 B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233 W Williams p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .077 Totals 4 0 1 0 1 2 6 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Wigginton 1. Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 31 -- 4 HOUSTON - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era B Looper 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 4.86 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era W Williams 2 5 4 4 0 2 1 5.00 Pitches-strikes: B Looper 21-11; W Williams 51-35. Ground balls-fly balls: B Looper 0-1; W Williams 2-2. Batters faced: B Looper 5; W Williams 11. UMPIRES: HP--James Hoye. 1B--Tim Tschida. 2B--Jim Joyce. 3B--Jim Wolf. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ST LOUIS 3 1 4 5 0 HOUSTON 0 0 0 1 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - BRADEN LOOPER HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: A PUJOLS (.318, 0-FOR-1) J EDMONDS (.257, 1-FOR-1) C DUNCAN (.271, 1-FOR-1, HR, 3 RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (4) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .293 R Ankiel rf 2 1 1 0 0 1 1 .283 A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .318 J Edmonds cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .257 C Duncan lf 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 .271 S Rolen 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265 Y Molina c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .283 B Looper p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 A Miles 2b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .297 Totals 10 4 5 4 0 2 3 BATTING: 2B - A Miles (12, W Williams). HR - C Duncan (21, 1st inning off W Williams 2 on, 2 Out). S - B Looper. RBI - C Duncan 3 (65), A Miles (24). 2-out RBI - C Duncan 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Ankiel 1. Team LOB - 1. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Biggio 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .254 H Pence cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .321 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .272 C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .306 T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .263 L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .256 M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279 B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233 W Williams p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .077 Totals 7 0 1 0 1 3 6 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Wigginton 1. Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 31 -- 4 HOUSTON - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era B Looper 2 1 0 0 1 3 0 4.83 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era W Williams 2 5 4 4 0 2 1 5.00 Pitches-strikes: B Looper 31-18; W Williams 51-35. Ground balls-fly balls: B Looper 1-2; W Williams 2-2. Batters faced: B Looper 8; W Williams 11. UMPIRES: HP--James Hoye. 1B--Tim Tschida. 2B--Jim Joyce. 3B--Jim Wolf. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ST LOUIS 3 1 0 4 6 0 HOUSTON 0 0 0 1 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - BRADEN LOOPER HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: W WILLIAMS (.077, 1 HR, 2 RBI) C BIGGIO (.254, 1-FOR-1) H PENCE (.321, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (4) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .293 R Ankiel rf 2 1 1 0 0 1 1 .283 A Pujols 1b 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .320 J Edmonds cf 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .256 C Duncan lf 2 1 1 3 0 0 1 .270 S Rolen 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .264 Y Molina c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .283 B Looper p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 A Miles 2b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .297 Totals 14 4 6 4 0 2 5 BATTING: 2B - A Miles (12, W Williams). HR - C Duncan (21, 1st inning off W Williams 2 on, 2 Out). S - B Looper. RBI - C Duncan 3 (65), A Miles (24). 2-out RBI - C Duncan 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - S Rolen 1, R Ankiel 1. Team LOB - 2. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Biggio 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .254 H Pence cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .321 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .272 C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .306 T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .263 L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .256 M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279 B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233 W Williams p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .077 Totals 7 0 1 0 1 3 6 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Wigginton 1. Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 310 -- 4 HOUSTON - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era B Looper 2 1 0 0 1 3 0 4.83 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era W Williams 3 6 4 4 0 2 1 4.97 Pitches-strikes: B Looper 31-18; W Williams 60-43. Ground balls-fly balls: B Looper 1-2; W Williams 5-2. Batters faced: B Looper 8; W Williams 15. UMPIRES: HP--James Hoye. 1B--Tim Tschida. 2B--Jim Joyce. 3B--Jim Wolf. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ST LOUIS 3 1 0 4 6 0 HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 1 0 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - BRADEN LOOPER HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: Y MOLINA (.283, 1-FOR-1) B LOOPER (.200, 0-FOR-0, SAC) A MILES (.297, 1-FOR-1, RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (4) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .293 R Ankiel rf 2 1 1 0 0 1 1 .283 A Pujols 1b 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .320 J Edmonds cf 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .256 C Duncan lf 2 1 1 3 0 0 1 .270 S Rolen 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .264 Y Molina c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .283 B Looper p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 A Miles 2b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .297 Totals 14 4 6 4 0 2 5 BATTING: 2B - A Miles (12, W Williams). HR - C Duncan (21, 1st inning off W Williams 2 on, 2 Out). S - B Looper. RBI - C Duncan 3 (65), A Miles (24). 2-out RBI - C Duncan 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - S Rolen 1, R Ankiel 1. Team LOB - 2. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Biggio 2b 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .253 H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .320 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .272 C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .306 T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .263 L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .256 M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279 B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233 W Williams p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .075 Totals 10 0 1 0 1 3 6 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Wigginton 1. Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 310 -- 4 HOUSTON - 000 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era B Looper 3 1 0 0 1 3 0 4.79 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era W Williams 3 6 4 4 0 2 1 4.97 Pitches-strikes: B Looper 44-28; W Williams 60-43. Ground balls-fly balls: B Looper 3-3; W Williams 5-2. Batters faced: B Looper 11; W Williams 15. UMPIRES: HP--James Hoye. 1B--Tim Tschida. 2B--Jim Joyce. 3B--Jim Wolf. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ST LOUIS 3 1 0 0 4 6 0 HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 1 0 (BOT 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - BRADEN LOOPER HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: L BERKMAN (.272, 0-FOR-1) C LEE (.306, 0-FOR-1) T WIGGINTON (.263, 0-FOR-1)</div>
