NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ST LOUIS (0) AT HOUSTON (7) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HOUSTON 1ST: H Pence singled to right center. C Biggio grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, H Pence out at second. L Berkman doubled to deep right, C Biggio scored. L Berkman stole third. C Lee grounded out to shortstop. M Loretta flied out to right. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 0, HOUSTON 1. HOUSTON 2ND: L Scott homered to right. T Wigginton popped out to second. B Ausmus tripled to deep center. R Oswalt singled to right center, B Ausmus scored. H Pence walked, R Oswalt to second. C Biggio grounded out to third. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 0, HOUSTON 3. HOUSTON 3RD: L Berkman homered to right. C Lee singled to left. M Loretta flied out to right. L Scott walked, C Lee to second. T Wigginton struck out swinging. B Ausmus grounded into fielder's choice to second, L Scott out at second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 0, HOUSTON 4. HOUSTON 7TH: C Biggio doubled to left. T Johnson relieved K Wells. C Biggio to third on wild pitch by T Johnson. L Berkman reached on infield single to first. C Lee singled to shallow right, C Biggio scored, L Berkman to second. M Loretta grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, C Lee out at second, L Berkman to third. L Scott grounded out to second. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 0, HOUSTON 5. HOUSTON 8TH: R Ankiel in center field. R Flores relieved T Johnson. G Bennett catching. R Ludwick in right field. T Wigginton singled to left. T Wigginton to second on wild pitch by R Flores. B Ausmus walked. C Burke walked, T Wigginton to third, B Ausmus to second. H Pence singled to right, T Wigginton scored, B Ausmus to third, C Burke to second. E Bruntlett hit for C Qualls. E Bruntlett grounded into fielder's choice to first, B Ausmus scored, H Pence out at second, C Burke to third. L Berkman grounded into double play, third to second to first, E Bruntlett out at second.(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 0, HOUSTON 7.</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ST LOUIS (0) AT HOUSTON (7) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ St Louis Starting Lineups -- D Eckstein SS, R Ankiel RF, A Pujols 1B, J Edmonds CF, C Duncan LF, Y Molina C, B Ryan 3B, A Miles 2B, K Wells RHP. Houston Starting Lineups -- H Pence CF, C Biggio 2B, L Berkman 1B, C Lee LF, M Loretta SS, L Scott RF, T Wigginton 3B, B Ausmus C, R Oswalt RHP. Umpires -- Tim Tschida (HP), Jim Joyce (1B), Jim Wolf (2B), James Hoye (3B). Gametime Weather: INDOORS. ST LOUIS 1ST: D Eckstein grounded out to shortstop. R Ankiel singled to left. A Pujols grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, R Ankiel out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 0, HOUSTON 0. HOUSTON 1ST: H Pence singled to right center. C Biggio grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, H Pence out at second. L Berkman doubled to deep right, C Biggio scored. L Berkman stole third. C Lee grounded out to shortstop. M Loretta flied out to right. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 0, HOUSTON 1. ST LOUIS 2ND: J Edmonds struck out swinging. C Duncan struck out swinging. Y Molina grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 0, HOUSTON 1. HOUSTON 2ND: L Scott homered to right. T Wigginton popped out to second. B Ausmus tripled to deep center. R Oswalt singled to right center, B Ausmus scored. H Pence walked, R Oswalt to second. C Biggio grounded out to third. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 0, HOUSTON 3. ST LOUIS 3RD: B Ryan grounded out to shortstop. K Wells struck out swinging. A Miles doubled to right. D Eckstein grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 0, HOUSTON 3. HOUSTON 3RD: L Berkman homered to right. C Lee singled to left. M Loretta flied out to right. L Scott walked, C Lee to second. T Wigginton struck out swinging. B Ausmus grounded into fielder's choice to second, L Scott out at second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 0, HOUSTON 4. ST LOUIS 4TH: R Ankiel grounded out to first. A Pujols singled to center. J Edmonds flied out to center. C Duncan struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 0, HOUSTON 4. HOUSTON 4TH: R Oswalt safe at first on error by third baseman B Ryan. R Oswalt to second on wild pitch by K Wells. H Pence struck out swinging. C Biggio grounded out to third. L Berkman grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) ST LOUIS 0, HOUSTON 4. ST LOUIS 5TH: Y Molina flied out to center. B Ryan grounded out to first. K Wells reached on infield single to pitcher. A Miles struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 0, HOUSTON 4. HOUSTON 5TH: C Lee flied out to center. M Loretta doubled to left. L Scott grounded out to first, M Loretta to third. T Wigginton grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 0, HOUSTON 4. ST LOUIS 6TH: D Eckstein struck out looking. R Ankiel struck out swinging. A Pujols grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 0, HOUSTON 4. HOUSTON 6TH: B Ausmus flied out to left. R Oswalt struck out swinging. H Pence grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 0, HOUSTON 4. ST LOUIS 7TH: J Edmonds struck out swinging. C Duncan grounded out to second. Y Molina struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 0, HOUSTON 4. HOUSTON 7TH: C Biggio doubled to left. T Johnson relieved K Wells. C Biggio to third on wild pitch by T Johnson. L Berkman reached on infield single to first. C Lee singled to shallow right, C Biggio scored, L Berkman to second. M Loretta grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, C Lee out at second, L Berkman to third. L Scott grounded out to second. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 0, HOUSTON 5. ST LOUIS 8TH: C Qualls relieved R Oswalt. C Burke at second base. B Ryan struck out swinging. R Ludwick hit for T Johnson. R Ludwick grounded out to third. A Miles reached on infield single to second. D Eckstein grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 0, HOUSTON 5. HOUSTON 8TH: R Ankiel in center field. R Flores relieved T Johnson. G Bennett catching. R Ludwick in right field. T Wigginton singled to left. T Wigginton to second on wild pitch by R Flores. B Ausmus walked. C Burke walked, T Wigginton to third, B Ausmus to second. H Pence singled to right, T Wigginton scored, B Ausmus to third, C Burke to second. E Bruntlett hit for C Qualls. E Bruntlett grounded into fielder's choice to first, B Ausmus scored, H Pence out at second, C Burke to third. L Berkman grounded into double play, third to second to first, E Bruntlett out at second.(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 0, HOUSTON 7. ST LOUIS 9TH: T Miller relieved C Qualls. R Ankiel singled to right. A Pujols flied out to right. S Taguchi hit for R Flores. S Taguchi grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, R Ankiel out at second. C Duncan struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 0, HOUSTON 7.</div>
Oswalt celebrates at the Cardinals' expense <h3>HOUSTON 7, ST LOUIS 0</h3>By Gene Duffy PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer HOUSTON (Ticker) - Houston Astros righthander Roy Oswalt turned30 Wednesday and turned back the charging St. Louis Cardinals. Oswalt pitched seven innings, allowing only four hits andstriking out nine, and Lance Berkman doubled and homered to leadthe Astros to a 7-0 victory. Oswalt (14-6) is 6-0 in his last seven starts and hasn't lostsince falling to the Chicago Cubs July 14. He threw 99 pitchesand didn't walk anyone. St. Louis, which moved into second place in the NL Central aheadof Milwaukee on Tuesday, had its three-game winning streaksnapped. The Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs Wednesday night,moving ahead of St. Louis again. The Cardinals (64-65), who slipped a game under .500, remainonly two games behind first place Chicago (67-64). Berkman hit his 25th homer to lead off the bottom of the thirdinning and give the Astros a 4-0 lead against St. Louis starterand Houston native Kip Wells (6-15). It was the 250th homer ofBerkman's career, the ninth switch hitter all-time to reach thatnumber. Berkman doubled home Craig Biggio with the first run of the gamein the first inning. Luke Scott opened the bottom of the second with a leadoff homer,his 15th. One out later Brad Ausmus tripled to left center.Oswalt made it 3-0 when he lined a single to right to scoreAusmus for his second RBI of the season. The win was the first for Houston interim manager Cecil Cooper,who replaced the fired Phil Garner on Monday. The Astros lostCooper's debut, 7-0, Tuesday night. Biggio doubled to lead off the last of the seventh, the 665th ofhis career, tying George Brett for fifth all-time. Wells, who pitched at Baylor, gave up five runs on nine hits insix-plus innings.
Oswalt celebrates at the Cardinals' expense <h3>HOUSTON 7, ST LOUIS 0</h3>By Gene Duffey PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer HOUSTON (Ticker) - Houston Astros righthander Roy Oswalt turned30 Wednesday and turned back the charging St. Louis Cardinals. Oswalt pitched seven innings, allowing only four hits andstriking out nine, and Lance Berkman doubled and homered to leadthe Astros to a 7-0 victory. Oswalt (14-6) is 6-0 in his last seven starts and hasn't lostsince falling to the Chicago Cubs July 14. He threw 99 pitchesand didn't walk anyone. St. Louis, which moved into second place in the NL Central aheadof Milwaukee on Tuesday, had its three-game winning streaksnapped. The Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs Wednesday night,moving ahead of St. Louis again. The Cardinals (64-65), who slipped a game under .500, remainonly two games behind first place Chicago (67-64). Berkman hit his 25th homer to lead off the bottom of the thirdinning and give the Astros a 4-0 lead against St. Louis starterand Houston native Kip Wells (6-15). It was the 250th homer ofBerkman's career, the ninth switch hitter all-time to reach thatnumber. Berkman doubled home Craig Biggio with the first run of the gamein the first inning. Luke Scott opened the bottom of the second with a leadoff homer,his 15th. One out later Brad Ausmus tripled to left center.Oswalt made it 3-0 when he lined a single to right to scoreAusmus for his second RBI of the season. The win was the first for Houston interim manager Cecil Cooper,who replaced the fired Phil Garner on Monday. The Astros lostCooper's debut, 7-0, Tuesday night. Biggio doubled to lead off the last of the seventh, the 665th ofhis career, tying George Brett for fifth all-time. Wells, who pitched at Baylor, gave up five runs on nine hits insix-plus innings.
Oswalt celebrates at the Cardinals' expense <h3>HOUSTON 7, ST LOUIS 0</h3>By Gene Duffey PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer HOUSTON (Ticker) - Houston Astros righthander Roy Oswalt turned30 Wednesday and turned back the charging St. Louis Cardinals. Oswalt pitched seven innings, allowing only four hits andstriking out nine, and Lance Berkman doubled and homered to leadthe Astros to a 7-0 victory. Oswalt (14-6) is 6-0 in his last seven starts and hasn't lostsince falling to the Chicago Cubs July 14. He threw 99 pitchesand didn't walk anyone. "My slow curve was working," Oswalt said. "Guys were takingpitches off me, trying to get my pitch count up. I was able toget ahead of a lot of hitters and throw some pitches outside thestrike zone (they swung at)." Oswalt missed his last start with a strained oblique muscle. "I was a little worried going into the game with the oblique,"he said. "I tried to take it easy the first few innings. Afterthe fourth inning I let it go." Rick Ankiel managed one of the four hits off Oswalt, a bloopsingle in the first inning. "He had good stuff tonight," Ankiel said of Oswalt. "It was justelectric. You just hope he makes a mistake." Oswalt helped Houston interim manager Cecil Cooper, who replacedthe fired Phil Garner on Monday, collect his first win in themajors. The Astros lost Cooper's debut, 7-0, Tuesday night. Catcher Brad Ausmus presented Cooper with a game ball after thevictory. "I will save it," Cooper said. "It's pretty special. My job waspretty easy tonight. I had the best pitcher on the planet.Anytime Roy takes the mound you've got a great chance to win.His fastball had a lot of life. He was throwing 94 in theseventh." St. Louis, which moved into second place in the NL Central aheadof Milwaukee on Tuesday, had its three-game winning streaksnapped. The Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs Wednesday night,moving ahead of St. Louis again. The Cardinals (64-65), who slipped a game under .500, remainonly two games behind first place Chicago (67-64). Berkman hit his 25th homer to lead off the bottom of the thirdinning and give the Astros a 4-0 lead against St. Louis starterand Houston native Kip Wells (6-15). It was the 250th homer ofBerkman's career, the ninth switch hitter all-time to reach thatnumber. "I'm sure he's glad to get it out of the way," Berkman said ofCooper's first win. "Anytime you get Roy the lead early it'sgoing to be tough on the team." Berkman, hitting better the last couple of weeks, raised hisaverage to .278 with a 3-for-5 game. "I can't explain why I struggled early in the season," he said."I can't explain why I'm hitting better now. It's just thenature of the sport." "He's not chasing a lot of bad pitches," Cooper said. "When heuses the whole field, he's a pretty special hitter." Berkman doubled home Craig Biggio with the first run of the gamein the first inning. Luke Scott opened the bottom of the secondwith a leadoff homer, his 15th. One out later Brad Ausmustripled to left center. Oswalt made it 3-0 when he lined a single to right to scoreAusmus for his second RBI of the season. Biggio doubled to leadoff the last of the seventh, the 665th of his career, tyingGeorge Brett for fifth all-time. "Tying George Brett, I know him, I played against him, as a kidI saw him hit a home run at Yankee Stadium, he has a certaincharisma about him," Biggio said. Wells, who pitched at Baylor, gave up five runs on nine hits insix-plus innings. "My goal was to go out there and get ahead and get more of theplate with pitches early on," Wells said. "For the most part, Idid that. I gave up two home runs to hitters where I was aheadin the count. I just made mistakes with hittable pitches andthey cashed in on them." "The first five or six guys that got hits, he was ahead in thecount," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "His put-awaypitch was a mistake and paid for it. Then, he got it togetherand actually did a good job of saving us."
