[Brian34Cook]

Atkins grounds into a DP.. Glaus to 2nd to 1st.. Thats ballgame.. way to go Izzy!!!

Cards improve to 21-12 with the 6-5 win!

[Brian34Cook]

<table class="primaryBg" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="759"><tbody><tr align="center"><td rowspan="3" class="white" align="center" width="130">
St. Louis (21-12)
Won 2 </td> <td width="509"> St. Louis 6, Colorado 5 <select onchange="window.parent.location.href=this.options[this.selectedIndex].value"> <option value="#" selected="selected">Today's Boxes 5/5/08</option> <option value="/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2008_05_05_bosmlb_detmlb_1"> BOS 6, DET 3 </option> <option value="/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2008_05_05_chamlb_tormlb_1"> TOR 1, CWS 0 </option> <option value="/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2008_05_05_chnmlb_cinmlb_1"> CIN 5, CHC 3 </option> <option value="/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2008_05_05_anamlb_kcamlb_1"> LAA 4, KC 0 </option> <option value="/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2008_05_05_phimlb_arimlb_1"> PHI 8, ARI 1 </option> <option value="/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2008_05_05_balmlb_oakmlb_1"> BAL 0, OAK 0 </option> <option value="/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2008_05_05_nynmlb_lanmlb_1"> LAD 5, NYM 1 </option> <option value="/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2008_05_05_texmlb_seamlb_1"> SEA 7, TEX 2 </option> </select> </td> <td rowspan="3" class="white" align="center" width="130">
Colorado (12-20)
Lost 1 </td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td> <table class="textSm" bgcolor="#cccccc" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#727272"> <td class="greyLite" align="right">May 5, 2008</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" width="100%"> <tbody><tr class="white" align="center" bgcolor="#cc0000"> <td class="white"> </td> <td> 1 </td> <td> 2 </td> <td> 3 </td> <td> 4 </td> <td> 5 </td> <td> 6 </td> <td> 7 </td> <td> 8 </td> <td> 9 </td> <td></td> <td class="white"> R </td> <td class="white"> H </td> <td class="white"> E </td> </tr> <tr align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">St. Louis
</td> <td> 0 </td> <td> 0 </td> <td> 1 </td> <td> 2 </td> <td> 1 </td> <td> 0 </td> <td> 0 </td> <td> 1 </td> <td> 1 </td> <td> </td> <td bgcolor="#cccccc">6</td> <td>11</td> <td>2</td> </tr> <tr align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Colorado
</td> <td> 1 </td> <td> 1 </td> <td> 0 </td> <td> 2 </td> <td> 0 </td> <td> 0 </td> <td> 0 </td> <td> 1 </td> <td> 0 </td> <td> </td> <td bgcolor="#cccccc">5</td> <td>13</td> <td>1</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td class="textSm white"> Standings thru 5/5/08 | Gameday <script type="text/javascript">var game_status = 'GO';</script> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="759"><tbody><tr class="primaryBg"><td colspan="3" height="10">
</td></tr> <tr> <td class="primaryBg" width="95">
</td> <td width="569"> <!--Copyright 2007 MLB Advanced Media, L.P.--><table class="textSm" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="559"> <tbody><tr> <td valign="top" width="276"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="276"> <tbody><tr align="center" bgcolor="#dedede"> <td align="left" width="130">St. Louis</td><td width="7%">AB</td><td width="7%">R</td><td width="7%">H</td><td width="7%">RBI</td><td width="7%">BB</td><td width="7%">SO</td><td width="7%">LOB</td><td align="right" width="10%">AVG</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Schumaker, RF-LF</td><td>4</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td align="right">.297</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Kennedy, 2B</td><td>5</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td align="right">.333</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Pujols, 1B</td><td>4</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td align="right">.355</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Ankiel, CF</td><td>4</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td align="right">.272</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Glaus, 3B</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td align="right">.228</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap"> 1-Ryan, PR-3B</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.321</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Duncan, LF</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td align="right">.257</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap"> Flores, P</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.000</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap"> Isringhausen, P</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.000</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Molina, C</td><td>4</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.296</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Pineiro, P</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td align="right">.091</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap"> Villone, P</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.000</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap"> a-Wainwright, PH</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.300</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap"> Parisi, P</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.000</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap"> b-Ludwick, PH-RF</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.316</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Miles, SS</td><td>4</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td align="right">.308</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap"> Izturis, SS</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.231</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left">Totals</td><td>36</td><td>6</td><td>11</td><td>6</td><td>5</td><td>8</td><td>17</td><td align="right"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="9">
a-Struck out for Villone in the 6th. b-Doubled for Parisi in the 8th.
1-Ran for Glaus in the 8th. </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="9">
BATTING
2B: Pineiro (1, Jimenez), Schumaker (8, Herges), Ludwick (9, Buchholz), Pujols (9, Fuentes).
3B: Kennedy (1, Jimenez).
TB: Schumaker 2; Kennedy 4; Pujols 2; Ankiel; Molina 3; Pineiro 2; Ludwick 2; Miles.
RBI: Kennedy (12), Pineiro 2 (2), Pujols (24), Ludwick (16), Ankiel (17).
2-out RBI: Pineiro 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Ankiel 2; Miles; Schumaker.
GIDP: Duncan.
Team LOB: 8.

FIELDING
E: Duncan 2 (2, fielding, fielding).
Outfield assists: Duncan (Helton at 2nd base).
DP: (Ryan-Kennedy-Pujols).

</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td><td width="7"> </td><td valign="top" width="276"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="276"> <tbody><tr align="center" bgcolor="#dedede"> <td align="left" width="130">Colorado</td><td width="7%">AB</td><td width="7%">R</td><td width="7%">H</td><td width="7%">RBI</td><td width="7%">BB</td><td width="7%">SO</td><td width="7%">LOB</td><td align="right" width="10%">AVG</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Podsednik, CF</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td align="right">.308</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap"> b-Torrealba, PH-C</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td align="right">.235</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Quintanilla, SS</td><td>5</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td align="right">.250</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Holliday, LF</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td align="right">.306</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Helton, 1B</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td align="right">.279</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap"> 2-Barmes, PR</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.280</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Atkins, 3B</td><td>5</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td align="right">.319</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Hawpe, RF</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td align="right">.269</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Iannetta, C</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.349</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap"> 1-Taveras, PR-CF</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.253</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Herrera, J, 2B</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td align="right">.300</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Jimenez, P</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td align="right">.000</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap"> Herges, P</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.000</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap"> Buchholz, P</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.000</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap"> a-Spilborghs, PH</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.306</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap"> Fuentes, P</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.000</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left">Totals</td><td>38</td><td>5</td><td>13</td><td>4</td><td>3</td><td>6</td><td>17</td><td align="right"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="9">
a-Singled for Buchholz in the 8th. b-Struck out for Podsednik in the 8th.
1-Ran for Iannetta in the 8th. 2-Ran for Helton in the 9th. </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="9">
BATTING
2B: Holliday (10, Pineiro), Iannetta (5, Pineiro), Atkins (9, Pineiro).
HR: Hawpe (3, 2nd inning off Pineiro, 0 on, 1 out).
TB: Quintanilla; Holliday 2; Helton 2; Atkins 3; Hawpe 5; Iannetta 4; Herrera, J; Spilborghs.
RBI: Helton (11), Hawpe 2 (14), Spilborghs (11).
2-out RBI: Helton.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Jimenez; Podsednik; Hawpe; Atkins; Quintanilla 2.
GIDP: Atkins.
Team LOB: 9.

BASERUNNING
SB: Herrera, J (1, 2nd base off Flores/Molina), Spilborghs (2, 2nd base off Flores/Molina), Taveras (14, 3rd base off Flores/Molina).

FIELDING
E: Hawpe (1, fielding).
Outfield assists: Hawpe (Kennedy at 2nd base).
DP: (Herrera, J-Quintanilla-Helton).

</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="276"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="276"> <tbody><tr align="center" bgcolor="#dedede"> <td align="left" width="130">St. Louis</td><td width="7%">IP</td><td width="7%">H</td><td width="7%">R</td><td width="7%">ER</td><td width="7%">BB</td><td width="7%">SO</td><td width="7%">HR</td><td align="right" width="10%">ERA</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Pineiro </td><td>3.0</td><td>8</td><td>4</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td align="right">4.33</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Villone </td><td>2.0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td align="right">0.63</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Parisi </td><td>2.0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td align="right">0.00</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Flores (BS, 2)(W, 1-0)</td><td>1.0</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td align="right">1.08</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Isringhausen (S, 11)</td><td>1.0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">6.14</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td><td width="7"> </td><td valign="top" width="276"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="276"> <tbody><tr align="center" bgcolor="#dedede"> <td align="left" width="130">Colorado</td><td width="7%">IP</td><td width="7%">H</td><td width="7%">R</td><td width="7%">ER</td><td width="7%">BB</td><td width="7%">SO</td><td width="7%">HR</td><td align="right" width="10%">ERA</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Jimenez </td><td>5.0</td><td>7</td><td>4</td><td>3</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td align="right">5.82</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Herges </td><td>2.0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td align="right">1.77</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Buchholz </td><td>1.0</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">1.93</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Fuentes (L, 0-2)</td><td>1.0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td align="right">2.40</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3">
Pineiro pitched to 3 batters in the 4th.

IBB: Pujols (by Herges).
Pitches-strikes: Pineiro 53-37, Villone 37-20, Parisi 30-15, Flores 31-17, Isringhausen 11-5, Jimenez 81-51, Herges 32-20, Buchholz 17-8, Fuentes 15-11.
Ground outs-fly outs: Pineiro 2-5, Villone 1-3, Parisi 4-1, Flores 1-0, Isringhausen 3-0, Jimenez 8-2, Herges 0-3, Buchholz 2-1, Fuentes 2-0.
Batters faced: Pineiro 16, Villone 8, Parisi 8, Flores 6, Isringhausen 3, Jimenez 23, Herges 8, Buchholz 6, Fuentes 4.
Inherited runners-scored: Villone 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Bob Davidson. 1B: Alfonso Marquez. 2B: Andy Fletcher. 3B: Mike Reilly.
Weather: 69 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 7 mph, R to L.
T: 3:16.
Att: 28,183.</td></tr></tbody></table>
</td></tr></tbody></table>

[Brian34Cook]

Pujols scores decisive run for Cardinals in win over Rockies
By PAT GRAHAM, AP Sports Writer
9 hours, 53 minutes ago



DENVER (AP)—Albert Pujols usually wins games with his power, not his wheels. A hustling Pujols scored from second base on a groundout in the ninth inning, lifting the St. Louis Cardinals to a 6-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Monday night.

“I didn’t know he was that fast,” St. Louis starting pitcher Joel Pineiro said. “He looked fast there.”

That’s what working with Lou Brock will do for a player. Pujols may never steal 30 bases in a season, but he’s learned how to run the bases intelligently from the Hall of Fame outfielder.

Pujols, who was standing on second after a one-out double, was off on contact as Rick Ankiel grounded out to second baseman Jonathan Herrera. When Herrera lofted a throw to Todd Helton, Pujols kicked it into fifth gear heading around third, and slid just out of the reach of catcher Yorvit Torrealba, who lunged forward in an effort to tag him.

“It’s something you don’t practice; it just happens,” said Pujols, who went 1-for-4 and has reached base safely in all 33 games this season. “Hopefully, you get lucky and don’t get thrown out. If you get (unlucky) and get thrown out, you’re in trouble with the manager.”

In this case, the manager didn’t have a problem with his star’s aggressive baserunning. Cardinals skipper Tony La Russa applauded his slugger taking a chance—even more so since he was safe.

“Albert’s very savvy,” La Russa said. “It’s him being a very, very smart player.”

Herrera was simply concentrating on getting the out at first, never even thinking that Pujols would try to score.

“They yelled to throw home and I wasn’t ready,” Herrera said. “I didn’t see him go home right away. I had already turned.”

Randy Flores (1-0) earned the win after working out of a jam in the eighth, and Jason Isringhausen pitched the ninth for his 11th save in 14 chances. He enticed Garrett Atkins into a 5-4-3 double play after Helton drew a one-out walk.

Rockies manager Clint Hurdle conceded after the game that his team caught a break.

“I thought Pujols was safe and I thought Molina was safe,” Hurdle said.

Pujols scores decisive run for Cardinals in win over Rockies - MLB - Yahoo! Sports

[Brian34Cook]

05/06/2008 2:15 AM ET
Pujols' mad dash gives Cards win
Slugger scores winning run from second on groundout in ninth
By Owen Perkins / Special to MLB.com

DENVER -- On a night when manager Tony La Russa admitted his bullpen was vulnerable and predicted the Cardinals would need to score some runs, his starting pitcher proved vulnerable in an extended at-bat that resulted in a crucial, game-changing two-run double.

Joel Pineiro's offensive contributions may have outshone his pitching Monday night, but it was the kind of game the Cardinals refused to lose, bouncing back time and again with any number of heroes stepping up with both the bat and the glove, on the pitcher's mound and on the basepaths.

Ultimately, Albert Pujols had the final act of heroism in the Cardinals' 6-5 victory, not so much by his one-out double in the top of a tied ninth inning off Rockies All-Star closer Brian Fuentes, but in his savvy baserunning, breaking for third with Rick Ankiel at the plate and storming on to home when Ankiel tapped a soft grounder to second. Rockies rookie second baseman Jonathan Herrera threw to first for the second out, and Gold Glover Todd Helton fired for home, missing Pujols by a hair.

"I knew I had the [third base] bag pretty easy, I got a good jump," Pujols said. "I heard the sound of the bat and I looked back and I was already on third base. I saw the second baseman, and I kind of hesitated, but I saw him not even look at me and I just took off."

It was a gamble, with no time for calculations, but Pujols let his feet think for him, earning a hard-fought win in the opener of the four-game set.

"I got my mind set," Pujols said of his break for the plate. "It's something that you don't practice. It's something that just happens. I'm not a fast runner, but I take advantage of the situation when I'm on base. I know how to run the bases."

Pineiro entered the game with a question mark by his name, as a result of back spasms he'd experienced between starts. But it was a swinging strike on the first pitch he saw in a 10-pitch at-bat in the fourth that proved most disruptive to the Cardinals' early rhythm. After missing the pitch with his bat, the pitch hit Pineiro on the right forearm, and though he finished the at-bat by hitting a two-run double, he was unable to retire a batter in the bottom of the inning, giving up three hits, two runs -- one earned -- and the lead in the frame before leaving the game.

"I was leaving balls in the middle of the plate, and they were doing what they're supposed to do with balls in the middle of the plate, hitting it hard," Pineiro said. "Even though my pitching wasn't so good today, something made up for it."

Much of the credit goes to a thin bullpen. Kyle McClellan and Ryan Franklin were unavailable, and if the Cardinals hadn't broken the tie in the ninth, Russ Springer was the only other reliever La Russa had to pitch into extras.

Ron Villone and Mike Parisi, making his Major League debut, pitched a pair of scoreless innings each to keep the game close from the fourth to the seventh.

"My heart started going a little bit, and I just had to tell myself to relax," said Parisi, who pitched a perfect sixth then put two on with two out in the seventh before escaping unscathed. "I got a little bit jacked up, but I recovered and tried to just step back and make some pitches and get out of it. I put up a zero, and we got a win. It was great."

The Official Site of The St. Louis Cardinals: News: St. Louis Cardinals News

[Brian34Cook]

Cards win a wild one in Colorado

By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

05/06/2008


May 5, 2008- Yadier Molina, right, celebrates with teammate Rick Ankiel after they scored on a double by Joel Pineiro in the fourth inning.


DENVER — Albert Pujols' daredevil dash from second base on a groundout was the final and most dramatic turn in a see-saw duel that the Cardinals had to win several times over against Colorado on Monday.

A game that saw a rookie's debut, a birthday to forget and four lead changes ended when the Cardinals didn't yield to the opportunities they had to lose the game. Pujols seized his one opportunity to win it.

The Cardinals prevailed 6-5 at Coors Field when Pujols ran farther than Rick Ankiel's groundout in the ninth inning traveled.

"You need to take that chance," Pujols said. "You need to be aggressive playing the game, and that's what I did. ... We battled and we played hard. We didn't give up on the game."

Pujols' bold run was the fourth time the Cardinals had rallied to tie the game or take a lead, and Jason Isringhausen worked a scoreless ninth inning to make sure it was the last. Isringhausen's league-best 11th save of the season — and his second in as many nights — meant the Cardinals' fifth victory in their past six games.

"There were a lot of places in that game where we could have given in and said, 'Tonight, it's not our night,'" manager Tony La Russa said. "But we never backed off."

After exchanging leads with Colorado through the early innings, the Cardinals turned to Ron Villone and rookie Mike Parisi to halt the Rockies. The bullpen had to cover at least six innings because starter Joel Pineiro got only three batters into the third inning before leaving the game, ushered out abruptly after two fielding errors by birthday boy Chris Duncan erased the runs Pineiro had just provided with his own double.

Villone ran his streak to 11 2/3 scoreless innings with a couple of spotless frames in relief of Pineiro. Villone shepherded the Cardinals out of trouble in the fourth inning and, with two runners on, struck out lefty Brad Hawpe, who had driven in two of the Rockies' first three runs. Parisi made his major-league debut with a tie score in the sixth inning. He worked two scoreless innings, with help from a tumbling catch at the warning track by Ankiel.

Almost lost in the plot twists of the late innings was what La Russa said the dugout dubbed "the at-bat of the year." Batting in the fourth inning with two runners on, Pineiro swung awkwardly at the first pitch from Colorado starter Ubaldo Jimenez. Pineiro took the 95 mph fastball to the right forearm, but because he swung it was ruled a strike and the Cardinals pitcher had to continue the at-bat.

Pineiro started the year 0 for eight with eight strikeouts at the plate, and he received a mocking standing ovation from teammates for putting the ball in play his first time. But unfazed by Jimenez's pure — and often untamed — velocity, Pineiro worked a 10-pitch at-bat. Pineiro fell behind 0-2 on two swinging strikes. All four of the pitches he fouled off to stay alive seared the strike zone at 94 mph or faster.

On the 10th pitch, another fastball, Pineiro dropped a double down the left-field line to score both runners. Pineiro's first extra-base hit since 2004 drove in his first runs since 2002, and with one swing he doubled his career total of RBIs.

STLtoday - Cards win a wild one in Colorado