Honolulu Star-Bulletin from Honolulu, Hawaii • 15

NATIONAL LEAGUE LPI B3 HONOLULU STAR-BULLETIN WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 2006 National League HI ER BBSO NP ERA 6 5 3 3 1 4 83 3 78 1 0 0 0 1 1 19 405 1 1 1 1 2 2 26 348 HI ER BBSO NP ERA Smoltz 4-5 Yates Ftemfcnger EAST NY Mets ret GB P10 Stric Horn Away 40 23 .635 8-2 W6 19-11 21-12 Johnson 54 8 7 1 1 2 7 103 205 Messenger 4 1 1 0 0 0 2 16 3 96 0 0 0 1 0 12 338 Tankersley 3 lb 0 0 0 0 1 5 0.00 1 0 0 0 1 0 13 3.86 Inherited runners-scored Tankersley 1-0. IBB oft Remlinger (MiCabrera) 1, off Johnson (Diazl 1. WP-)ohnson. Umpires Home, Alfonso Marqusz; First Larry Young; Second, Chad Fairchiid; Third, Mike Everitt 2:33. A 6,940 Philadelphia 33 31 .516 7 5-5 L2 1 6-17 1 7-14 Atlanta 30 35 .462 11 2-8 L5 14-14 J6-21 Washington 30 36 .455 11 6-4 L2 J3-16 17-20 Florida 24 37 .393 15 7-3 W3 10-17 14-20 CENTRAL Pet QB P10 Strk Horn Amy St.

Louis 38 25 .603 4-6 W2 21-13 17-12 Cincinnati 36 29 .554 3 5-5 L5 16-16 20-13 Houston 33 32 .508 8 6-4 W2 23-14 10-18 Milwaukee 32 34 .485 Tk 6-4 W2 21-15 11-19 Chicago Cubs 26 37 12 5-5 LI 12-15 14-22 Pittsburgh 25 40 .385 14 5-5 L1 17-16 8-25 WEST Pet GB P10 Stric Home Away Arizona 35 29 .547 3-7 W1 18-16 17-13 LA Dodgers 35 29 .547 4-6 L1 19-14 16-15 San Diego 33 31 .516 2 4-6 W1 17-18 16-13 Colorado 32 32 .500 3 5-5 W2 16-16 16-18 Brewers 8, Reds 4 AB Bl BB 5 12 0 0 4 0 2 0 4 110 4 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 5 111 3 110 3 0 2 2 SO Avg, 1 .305 0 592 1 .265 2 578 0 1 .296 1 574 1 552 3 573 0 .069 0 0 .000 0 .337 0 0 518 10 San Francisco 32 32 .500 3 4-8 L4 17-17 15-15 1 4 0 ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 35 12 Milwaukee Weeks 2b BCIark cf KoskieSb CaLeetl Turnbowp Fielder lb BHalss Jenkins rf DMillerc DDavisp BShousep CapeHanp a-omioph Koibp Gross Totals Cincinnati BPhHlips2b Hatteberg 1b 1-Freel or Griffey Jr. cf Aurilia 3b Dunn Keams rf Rossc Otmeooss Arroyo Yanp Merckerp b-FLopezph Totals AB Bl BB SO Avg, 3 0 2 0 .310 0 586 0 574 2 572 0 552 Yesterday Florida 4, Atlanta 1 NY Mets 9, Philadelphia 7 St Louie 2, Pittsburgh 1 Colorado 9. Washington 2 Milwaukee 6, Cincinnati 4 Houston 9, Chicago Cubs 2 Arizona 2, San Francisco 1 San Diego 9, LA Dodgers 1 Today (AH times Hawaii time) Milwaukee (ViHanueva 0-0) at Cincinnati (Ramirez 2-5), 6:35 am Atlanta (Thomson 2-8) at Florida (Willis 3-6), 1:05 p.m. St. Louis (Ponson 4-1) at Pittsburgh (Duke 4-6).

1:05 p.m. Colorado (BKim 3-4) at Washington (Armas 8-3), 1:05 p.m. Mets (O.Hemandez 4-5) at Philadelphia (Myers 4-2). 1:05 p.m. Houston (Oswalt 5-3) at Chicago Cubs (Rusch 2-8), 2:06 p.m, San Francisco (Cain 4-5) at Arizona (Vargas 6-3), 3:40 p.m.

LA Dodgers (Penny 7-1) at San Diego (Thompson 2-2), 4:05 p.m. 4 0 11 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 5 111 4 1 2 1 540 4 0 0 2 .269 3 .342 1 0 .333 4 1 1 3 0 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 34 4 9 0 0 .162 0 0 0 0 0 1 580 4 (All Bit St. Louie at Pittsburgh, 6:35 a.m. Y. Mets at Philadelphia, 7:05 a.m.

Colorado at Washington, 7:05 am. Houston at Chicago Cubs, 8:20 am. LA Dodgers at San Diego, 9:35 a.m. San Franciaco at Arizona, 12:40 p.m. Atlanta at Florida, 1:05 p.m.

Diamondbacks 2, Giants 1 I ASSOCIATED PRESS Milwaukee 010 003 011 6 12 1 Cincinnati 001 0O2 010 4 9 0 a-grounded out for Capellan In the 8th. b-struck out tor Mercker in the 9th. 1-ran tor Hatteberg in the 9th. BShouse (1). LOB Milwaukee 8, Cincinnati 9.

2B BCIark (8), BHall (16), BPhSlips (9), Oknedo (21. HR-floss (10), off Koirj; Dunn (22), off DDavis; Aurilia (8), off DDavis; Fielder (12), off Arroyo. RBIs CaLee (53). Fielder (38), Jenkins 2 (39). DMiller (24), Hatteberg (16).

Audia (25), Dunn (39), Ross (23). SB Oknedo (1). BCIark, DDavis, Arroyo. SF Hatteberg. GIDP Fielder.

Runners left in scoring position Milwaukee 5 (Weeks, Fielder, DDavis, GnHo 2); Cindnnatj 7 (Grifley Jr. 3, Aunlia 3, Arroyo). Runners moved up Hatteberg, Griffey DP Cincinnati 1 (Arroyo, Ross and Haite. berg). Milwaukee IP ER BB SO NP ERA DOavisW, 4-4 6 6 3 3 3 5 115 5.07 BSnouseH.

3 1 0 0 0 1 13 352 Capellan 7 Ik 0 0 0 0 0 4 4.98 Kdb 4 1 1 1 1 0 2 12 2 82 TumbowS, 19 1 1 0 0 1 1 16 3.94 Cincinnati ER BBSO NP ERA 7 9 4 4 2 7 127 2.51 Yan 1 1 1 1 2 2 27 4.05 Mercker 1 2 1 1 0 1 14 750 Inherited runners-scored Capellan 1-0. IBB-off Yan (Jenkins) 1. WP Yan. Umpires Home. Marty Foster; First, Fieid-m Culbreth; Second, BUI Welke; Third, Tim McClelland.

3:13. A 21,829 (42571). San Fran. AB Bl BB SO Avg. Winnd 4 0 1 0 0 1 272 Vizquelss 4 0 1 0 0 2 .307 Durham 2b 3 0 0 0 1 0 21 Bonds If 3 0 0 0 1 0 .244 Alourf 300001.

346 FelizSb 3 0 0 0 0 2 271 Ishikawa 1b 3 0 0 0 0 1 .400 Alfonzoc 3 1 1 1 0 0 .269 Wright 2 0 0 0 0 0 519 b-MaSweeney 1 0 0 0 0 0 .235 Kline 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 29 1 3 1 2 7 Arizona AB Bl BB SO Avg. Counsel! ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 .264 Byrnes 4 0 1 0 0 0 .296 Tracy 3b 4 1 1 1 0 2 .280 LGonzalezlf 3 0 0 0 0 0 .261 CJackson 1b 3 0 1 0 0 0 580 LVizcainop 0 0 0 0 0 0 Julio 0 0 0 0 0 0. 000 ShGreenrl 3 1 1 0 0 0 .314 JEstradac 2 0 1 1 0 0 .314 OHudson2b 1 0 1 0 2 0 554 EGonzalezp 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 a-TOarkph-lb 1 0 0 0 0 0 .168 Totals 25 2 6 2 2 2 St. Louis starter Chris Carpenter struck out a career-high 13 batters yesterday, leading the Cardinals to a 2-1 victory over Pittsburgh. Carpenter stifles Pirates Meta 9, Phillies 7 New York AB Bl BB SO Avg, Reyeses 3 3 2 0 3 0 .251 LoDucac 5 0 2 2 0 0 .290 Bernard 5 112 1 1 .295 CDeigado lb 4 13 1 0 1 .264 Wright 3b 4 111 1 1 .335 Valentin 2b 5 1 1 0 0 2 579 Chavez rf 4 1 2 0 0 2 .300 Milledgen 4 1 1 0 0 1 .255 TQIavinep 2 0 0 0 0 0 573 a-JuFranco ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .317 Feiidanop 1 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Woodward 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 .295 Totals 39 13 8 i Philadelphia AB BB SO Avg.

Rollins ss 4 2 2 2 1 0 .257 UHey2b 5 0 2 0 0 1 .305 BAbreulf 4 111 1 1 .287 Burremf 4 0 1 0 1 2 259 Howard 1b 4 0 1 0 1 0 .293 Rowandd 5 1 1 1 0 2 587 DaBell 3b 4 1 2 0 0 0 .264 Fasanoc 3 1 2 0 1 0 .265 Madsonp 2 0 0 0 0 0 .238 Sanchesp 0 0 0 0 0 0 Fultz 0 0 0 0 0 0. 000 b-vetonnoph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .324 RFranklinp 0 0 0 0 0 0 c-Dellucdph 1 1 1 3 0 0 .267 Geary 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 Total 37 7 13 7 8 6 New York 103 005 000 9 13 0 Padres 9, Dodgers 1 SO Avo. Loa Angelas AB Furcal ss 0 0 552 RMarbnez ss Loftond Garoaparra 1b Guzman 1b JDrew rf JKent2b AybarSb Kemp Martin SAIomarc Sole a-Ethierph Seop Beimel b-JoCruzph OPerez d-Saenzph Totals 0 .342 0 .316 1 .356 0 511 2 591 0 .256 1 .301 1 .364 0 .304 1 .360 1 .154 1 .312 0 .118 0 1 540 0 .067 0 .302 Phlla 111 010 030 7 13 3 a-Rned out tor Bradford in the 6th. b-ground- San Fran 000 000 010 1 3 0 Arizona 100 010 0O 2 6 0 a-grounded out for En.Gonzalez in the 7th. b-Aied out for Wright In the 8th.

LOB San Francisco 3, Arizona 4. 29 Byrnes (15). 38 ShGreen (3). HR Atfonzo (2), off Unzcelno; Tracy (11), off Wnght RBIS-Alfonzo (5), Tracy (36), JEstrada (37). CS Byrnes (1).

EGonzalez 2. SF JEstrada. GIDP Durham, ShGreen. Runners left in soaring posflon San Frande-oo 1 (Aiou); Arizona 3 (Counsel, Byrnes, TCtark). DP San Francisco 1 (Durham, Vizquef and Ishikawa); Arizona 1 (OHudson, Counsel and CJackson).

San Francisco IP ER BB SO NP ERA 7 6 2 2 2 1 84 4.48 Kline 1 0 0 0 0 1 10 2.21 ed into fielder's choice lor Fultz the 6tn. homered for Franklin in the 8th. UrJey (6), Howard (9). DaBell (10). LOB New York 12, Philadelphia 8.

2B Reyes (12), Valentin (8), Chavez 2 (10), UHey (17), Fasano (7). HR Dekucci (3), off HeU- Bl BB SO Avg. 1 1 0 i 5ya 0 0 man; Wnght (12), oft Madson; BAbreu (8), on TGIavlne; CDeigado (19), of Madson; Beltran (18 on Madson; Howano IB), on tuiavine; 1 1 0 .000 0 .000 0 .257 1 .277 0 556 0 .355 0 565 1 0 San Diego DHooerts If Embree Cassidyp Cameron cf BGiles rf Piazza Bowenc AGonzalez lb KGreene ss Caswia 3b Barfietd2b Park Adkins Diamondbacks make a costly cut PHOENK The Arizona Diamondbacks decided yesterday they would rather eat the remaining $22 million of Russ Ortiz's contract than keep him on their roster. Ortiz is believed to be the most expensive player to be cut loose in baseball history. The club designated the struggling right-hander for assignment, which means it has 10 days to trade, waive or release him.

The team is on the hook for the balance of the $33-million, four-year contract Ortiz signed in December 2004, a figure general manager Josh Byrnes said was close to $22 million. The 32-year-old Ortiz was 0-5 with a 7.54 ERA in six starts for Arizona this season, and he was 1-14 in his last 19 starts dating to last May. "We're like most clubs: every dollar counts. You want to spend them as effectively as possible," Byrnes said at a Chase Field news conference. "That affected the decision, but we also were true to ourselves, and we want to put our best 25 on the field and try to win games.

That led us to our decision." Stiff elbow sends LA's Gagne to DL SAN DIEGO Los Angeles closer Eric Gagne was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday because of stiffness in his surgically repaired pitching elbow and the Dodgers activated second baseman Jeff Kent, who had been out with a sprained left wrist. Gagne earned his first save in nearly a year on June 6 by striking out two in a perfect ninth inning in an 8-5 victory over the New York Mets, but said afterward he wasn't 100 percent. The right-hander went on the DL retroactive to June 7. Gagne had surgery April 7 to remove a nerve from his right elbow, his second operation in less than a year. Philles' Wolf hit by line drive CLEARWATER, Fla.

Philadelphia starter Randy Wolf isn't expected to miss his next start despite getting hit on the left hand by a line drive that forced him out of his second rehabilitation start with Class A Clearwater last night. Wolf, coming back from an elbow injury, was hit by Fort Myers left fielder Garrett Guzman's single with two outs in the third inning. X-rays were negative and Wolf will continue his rehab as scheduled. He was supposed to move up to a higher level possibly Dou-ble-A Reading for his next start Sunday. Wolf threw his glove to the ground after being struck.

After a brief discussion near the mound, Wolf and a trainer headed toward the clubhouse and he went to a hospital. Giants place Niekro on 15-day DL PHOENIX The San Francisco Giants placed first baseman Lance Niekro on the 15-day disabled list yesterday with a right groin strain. To fill the roster spot, the club recalled first baseman Travis Ishikawa from Dou-ble-A Connecticut. Randa returns to Pirates PITTSBURGH Third baseman Joe Randa was activated yesterday by the Pittsburgh Pirates after missing six weeks because of a bruised right foot. Randa, signed to a $4 million contract during the offseason, began the season as the Pirates' starter at third but has since lost his everyday job to Freddy Sanchez.

Randa started last night against the Cardinals as Sanchez moved to second base, but manager Jim Tracy said Sanchez would return to third today. To make room on their 25-man roster for Randa, the Pirates optioned infielder Yurendell DeCaster to Rollins 2 (8), oft TGIavine 2. RBIe to Duca 2 (18), Beltran 2 (51), CDeigado (46). Wright (45), RoHine 2 (21), BAbreu (47), Rowend (24), Dellucci 3 (12). SB Reyes (28).

Wright (10). CS floWns (3). Chavez. GIDP Arizona IP ER BBSO NP ERA EGonzatzW.2-0 7 1 0 0 2 4 100 1.64 LVizcano 14 1 1 1 1 0 2 14 2.59 Julio 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 17 3.86 1 0 513 wngnt, luiavme, Hornns, Burres. Umpires ome, Tom Hallion; First Gary Darting; Second, Larry Ponano; Third, Bruce Runners (eft in scoring position New York 0 0 518 1 0 564 0 0 .375 0 0 .000 0 0 560 7 1 ursewnan.

2:10. A 25,595 8 (LO Duca, Beltran Valentin 4, Chavez); Philadelphia 2 (DaBell 2). Runners moved up to Duca, MiHedge, BAbreu. 1 1 c-EYouna oh- 1 Totals 34 9 10 Cardinals 2, Pirates 1 DP New York 3 (Reyes, Valentin and Bl BB SO Avg, StLoula AB Eckstein ss 4 0 0 0 0 .324 CDeigado), (Lo duca and Heyes), (Wnght Woodward and CDeigado); Philadelphia 2 (Fasano, Rolans and UtJey), (Rotkns, Utley 0 576 0 .351 Taguchi If 3 RolenSb 4 JEncamacion rf 4 Edmonds cf 4 1 1 562 551 .214 0 1 .250 LA. 000 010 000 1 1 2 San Diego 410 030 101 9 10 0 a-slruck out for Sete In the Sth.

b-struck out for Beimel in the 7th. c-homered for Adkins in the 7th. d-singled for Perez in the 9th. Furcal 2(15) LOB Los Angeles 9. San Diego 10.

2B-)Kent (9). Cameron (9), Cassia (7), Barfieid (tO). 38 ORoberts (8), Cameron (2) HR EYoung (11, oil OPerez; Cameron (3) off Seo. RBIs Martin (25), Cameron 3 23), Piazza (24). CasMla 3 (15).

EYoung (7). Park. SF Piazza. GIDP Lofton. Runners left in scoring position Los Angeles 4 (Furcal, RMamnez, JKent.

Ethier); San Diego 6 (DRoberis 2, Bowen, CasbHa 2, Park). Runners moved up Aybar. DP San Diego 1 (AGonzalez, KGreene and AGonzalez). 0 Molina Duncan 1b Spiezto 1b Luna 2b Carpenter Looperp Floras 1 1 .286 .301 .043 .500 0 0 0 Isringhausen totals Bl BB SO Avg, and Howard). New York tP ER BBSO NP ERA TGIavine 4 7 4 4 3 1 110 3 31 BraOlort W.3-2 0 0 0 0 0 5 332 Fetoano 2 2 0 0 0 2 25 1.64 Heenan WIS 1 1 17 411 BWagnerS, 13 1 1 0 0 1 2 31 257 Philadelphia IP ER BBSO NP ERA MadsonL.e-4 5 9 8 6 1 78 6.11 Sanchee 1 1 1 1 0 14 2.08 Fultz 1 0 0 0 1 9 3.34 RFrankin 2 2 0 0 2 1 31 440 Geary 1 1 0 0 1 1 27 2.78 Madson pitched to 4 batters the 6th.

Inherited runners-scored BWagner 1-0, Bradford 3-0, Sanchee 3-2, Fultz 3-2. IBB off Geary (Reyes) 1, off Sanches (Reyes) 1. HBP by Geary (Lo Duca), by Madson (Milledge), by Madson (CDeigado). Umpires Home, Hunter Wendeistedr, First Sam Hofbrook; Second, Randy Marsh; Third, Angel Hernandez. 3:31.

A 37,964 AB 3 0 0 0 1 2 227 4 3 4 4 4 Los Angeles SeieL.3-1 Sec Beimel OPsrez San Diego Park 4-3 Adkins Embies Pittsburgh JBautistacf JWilson ss Casey 1b Bay If Randa 3b FSanchez2b CWilsonrf Paulino OlPerezp e-McLouthph Cappsp Grabow Totals IP ER BBSO NP ERA 4 6 5 1 5 0 83 2.32 1 2 3 3 1 1 21 5.64 1 0 0 0 0 0 8 4.79 2 2 1 1 1 0 38 6 90 IP ER BBSO NP ERA 6 3 1 1 3 5 98 4 15 1 2 0 0 0 2 23 2.50 1 1 0 0 0 0 14 4 03 1 2 0 0 0 2 19 2.37 1 .283 0 .345 3 .306 2 .222 1 .341 1 .271 4 .311 1 .130 1 526 0 0 2 4 2 1 0 0 31 1 16 WP Sole. Umpires Home, Ted Barrett; First, Laz Diaz; Second, Rick Reed: Third, Tun Tschida. 2:50. A 30,371 Rockies 9, Nationals 2 Astros 9, Cubs 2 AB Bl BB SO Avg, 1 .333 Cam 2b Spilborghsrt Helton 1b Holliday Atkins 3b 2 2 2 5 2 5 2 3 2 2 St Louis 000 110 000 2 8 0 Pittsburgh 000 000 001 1 0 a-struck out for Perez in the 7th. LOB St Louis 5, Pittsburgh 7.

2B Rolen 2 (21), Casey (9), FSanchez (16). RBIs Rolen (40), JEncamacion (31), CW.Bon (28). SF CWteon. GIDP-JEncamacion. Runners left in scoring position St.

Louis 2 (Luna 2); Pittsburgh 3 (Bay. Paulino. OlPeiez). DP Pittsburgh 1 (FSanchez, JWilson and Casey). St Louis ER BBSO NP ERA Carpenter 54 7 3 0 0 3 13 111 2 57 LoopsrH.9 0 0 0 0 1 9 342 FloresH.9 0 0 0 0 0 4 3.48 1 2 1 1 0 2 16 376 Pittsburgh IP ER BB SO NP ERA Torrealbac 4 0 1 as 2 113 Astros 9, Cubs 2 CHICAGO Chris Burke went 4-for-4 and scored five times to match Craig Biggio's Houston record, and Andy Pettitte allowed five hits in seven strong innings.

Pettitte (6-7) earned his first career victory over the Cubs, retiring 12 straight after he was struck by Juan Pierre's line drive leading off the third inning. The lefty did not give up another hit until Phil Nevin's leadoff homer in the seventh. Burke's second homer of the season, a solo shot, got the Astros started in the first, and Lance Berkman's two-run double knocked Chicago rookie Sean Marshall (3-5) out in the fifth as Houston built a 54 lead. Houston has won six of its last seven to move back over the .500 mark for the first time since May 30. Brewers 6, Reds 4 CINCINNATI Geoff Jenkins snapped out of a slump with two hits and two RBIs after being dropped from third to seventh in Milwaukee's batting order.

Jenkins had six hits In his previous 41 at-bats before going 2-for-3 with a two-run single that snapped a 1-1 tie in the sixth. Prince Fielder homered for the Brewers. Damian Miller followed with an RBI single in support of Doug Davis (4-4), who hadn't won since beating the Reds on May 24. Derrick Turn bow got the final three outs for his 19th save in 23 opportunities. Mets 9, Phillies 7 PHILADELPHIA Billy Wagner earned his first save in Philadelphia since leaving the Phillies to sign with New York during the offseason, and David Wright, Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado homered for the Mets.

Wagner got the final five outs for his 13th save in 16 chances. Marlins 4, Braves 1 MIAMI Josh Johnson pitched six strong innings and had an RBI double off the left-field scoreboard in Florida's two-run fifth inning. Johnson (5-4) allowed one run and seven hits. He struck out seven and walked two. Joe Borowski got the final three outs for his ninth save in 10 chances.

Rockies 9, Nationals 2 WASHINGTON Matt Holliday and Clint Barmes had two-run doubles in a five-run sixth and Josh Fogg (4-4) allowed a run in six innings for Colorado. The Rockies (32-32) won for the fifth time in seven games and moved back to .500 for the first time since June 2. Washington rookie Mike O'Connor (3-4) had the worst outing of his young career, surrendering six runs and six hits in 5 23 innings. Diamondbacks 2, Giants 1 PHOENIX Rookie Enrique Gonzalez gave the Diamondbacks a much-needed lift, allowing one hit in seven innings, and Arizona snapped a seven-game losing streak. Omar Vizquel's first-inning single was Giants' only hit off Gonzalez, making his third major league start.

Freeman 4 0 1 Associated Press PITTSBURGH Chris Carpenter gave the same much-needed lift to the St. Louis rotation that Scott Rolen is providing to a Cardinals batting order that is sorely missing star Albert Pujols. Carpenter held the Pirates to three hits and struck out a career-high 13 in seven shutout innings in his best start since April, and Rolen had four hits to lead St. Louis past Pittsburgh 2-1 last night. "My stuff was as good as it ever has been," said Carpenter, who had won only once since beating the Pirates twice in a week's time in April.

"Those guys are a good hitting team, but when you can execute a game plan and don't make a lot of mistakes, you can have some success." Much like Rolen is having, going .481 (13-for-27) since Pujols went on the 15-day disabled list June 4 with a strained muscle in his right side. Rolen doubled and scored on Juan Encarnacion's single in the fourth, then doubled again an inning later to drive in the Cardinals' second run after So Taguchi drew a two-out walk from Oliver Perez. "We are a good ballclub with him in the three-hole, but I think we're a good enough club to win the division," Rolen said of the absent Pujols. "We miss him, we miss his bat, but he's not there so I can't go out there and approach my at-bats any differently because I'm in 3-hole, rather than 4th or 5th." Maybe facing the Pirates was all Carpenter (5-3) needed to again resemble the pitcher who went 21-5 and won the Cy Young Award last season. The right-hander is 8-1 against the Pirates in his career and 3-0 this season, allowing the NL Central rivals only two runs in 21 innings.

Carpenter's start was badly needed by a rotation that had allowed 37 runs in 41 innings in its previous eight games. "Mechanically, I've been working hard to get myself back to where I was last year," Carpenter said. "I've been struggling a little bit with my mechanics, but I think they're coming back to where they need to be." Carpenter couldn't have been much sharper in his second start since coming off the disabled list, surpassing his career high of 12 strikeouts done twice last season while not allowing a hit after Sean Casey's two-out double in the third. Another sign of how well Carpenter pitched: He threw 71 of 111 pitches for strikes, striking out five of the final six he faced. Jason Isringhausen allowed two hits and Craig Wilson's sacrifice fly in the ninth inning but he struck out Ronny Paulino with the potential tying run on third for his 21st save.

It was the 161st save of Isringhausen's career, one more than Lee Smith's previous team career record. After the game, Isringhausen playfully avoided teammates gathered at his locker to celebrate his record, sneaking in a backdoor before saying, "What are you guys looking for?" "It was brilliant, he outsmarted the whole team," manager Tony La Russa said. "It was the best move I've seen in all my years of managing." 1 .271 1 .340 0 .329 2 .174 0 512 1 558 1 .000 0 .000 0 500 0 0 .000 3 0 0 Foggp Dohmanno 0 0 0 0 0 1 c-Piedraph Cortes 0 0 0 0 0 0 King Totals 37 12 Bl BB SO Avg, 7 7 2 2 1 4 1106.68 Capps 1 1 0 0 0 0 11 4.35 Graoow 1 0 0 0 0 1 10 4.56 0 0 2 596 Houston AB Bl BB SO Avg, Bigg2b 4 1 0 0 1 0 .283 Lamb 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 .355 Burkecf-2b 4 5 4 1 1 0 .313 Lanerf 2 2 1 1 2 0 .208 Beikmanlb 4 12 3 1 2 .311 Lidgep 0 0 0 0 0 0 PrWDsonlf 5 0 3 3 0 1 578 Ausmusc 5 0 0 1 0 0 282 BruntlettSb 5 0 0 0 0 0 .278 AEverettss 5 0 2 0 0 0 .212 Petttttep 3 0 0 0 0 0 .107 c-OPalmelro ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .231 TrefcMerp 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wheeler 0 0 0 0 0 0 Taverascf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268 Totals 36 12 3 Chicago AB Bl BB SO Avg, Pierre cf 5 0 2 1 0 0 21 NPerez2b 5 0 2 0 0 0 -214 Barren 5 0 2 0 0 1 598 ARamlrez3b 4 0 1 0 0 1 .248 Nevinlb 4 12 1 0 1 .280 Murlonlf 3 0 0 0 1 0 .274 JJoneerf 4 0 0 0 0 2 591 Cedenoss 4 0 1 0 0 2 .300 Marshall 1 0 0 0 0 1 .120 Aardsmap 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 a-Womackph 1 0 0 0 0 0 588 Guzman 0 0 0 0 0 0 200 b-TWalkerph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .290 Novoap 0 0 0 0 0 0 333 Ohmanp 0 0 0 0 0 01000 d-Mabryph 1 1 1 0 0 0 .222 Totals 38 2 11 1 1 1 .260 WP Isringhausen. Umpires ftorne. Mike Winters; First, Brian Rungs; Second, Paul Emmet Third, Bruce 0 0 .308 0 0 0 0 559 0 0 0 0 .000 1 0 .236 Froemming.

I i.c. A 3 0 .305 Washington AB ASoriano 5 Clayton ss 5 Vidro 2b 3 Stanton 0 b-MarAnderson 1 Brayp 0 Majewski 0 e-LeCroy ph 0 NJohnson 1b 2 Zimmerman 3b 4 JGuillen rf 3 1-DJackson 0 Schneider 2 d-Frckph-c 1 Byrdd-rl 4 tfConnorp 2 SRivera 0 a-BHarre ph-2b 2 Marlins 4, Braves 1 0 .267 1 524 0 534 1 541 0 550 1 .229 0 .053 0 0 550 Total 34 2 10 Colorado 000 015 300 12 0 Wash 000 010 100 2 10 0 a-flied out lor Rivera In the 6th. b-oopped out lor Stanton in the 7th. c-grounded out lor Dohmann in the 8th. (grounded into double play for Schneider in the 8th.

e-weJked for MafewSM the wn. Atlanta AB Bl BB SO Avg, MGHes2b 5 0 1 0 0 1 .235 Renteriass 4 0 1 0 0 1 .326 CJonesSb 4 0 1 0 0 2 592 AJonesd 4 1 1 0 0 2 570 McCannc 3 0 3 0 1 0 .368 Franooeurrf 4 0 1 1 0 1 29 LaRochelb 2 0 0 0 1 0 543 b-BJordanpn-tbl 0 0 0 0 1 515 Diaz 200021. 326 Smoltz 2 0 0 0 0 1 .111 a-Orrph 1 0 0 0 0 0 210 Yates 0 0 0 0 0 0 Remkngerp 0 0 0 0 0 0 d-Betemitph 1 0 0 0 0 0 598 Totals S3 1 1 4 10 Florida AB Bl BB SO Avg. HaRamirezas 4 0 0 0 0 3 588 Uggja2b 3 0 2 1 1 0 .314 Jacobs 1b 4 1 1 1 0 0 560 Borowskip 0 0 0 0 0 0 MrCabreraSb 3 0 0 0 1 1 .335 CROSS 4 1 1 0 0 2 .302 Hermidaif 3 0 0 0 0 1 550 Amezagacf 2 1 1 0 1 0 588 Helms lb 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217 Onvoc 2 0 0 1 0 0 573 Johnson 2 0 1 1 0 0 .067 Messenger 0 0 0 0 0 0 000 Kensmgp 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Tankersleyp 0 0 0 0 0 0 C-Arjercrombie 0 10 0 1 0 219 Totals 27 4 4 4 7 1 -ran tor ijumen the am. LOB Colorado 6, Washington 11.

2B Soilborohs (2). Hottaav 2 (211. AOons 120). Barmes (13). ASonano (13), Clayton 2 (16), Zimmerman (16), Schneider (7).

RBIs Helton (26), Holliday 2 (44), Torrealba (7), Barmes 3 (37), Freeman 2 (6), Vidro (27), NJohnson (33). SB Atkins (2). Torrealba SF Barmes. GIDP NJohnson, Zimmerman. Flck.

Runners left in scoring position Colorado 3 (Helton. Barmes, Freeman); Washington 5 (ASonano, Zimmerman, O'Connor 3). Hunners moved up tjpioorgns. torreaioa. DP Colorado 3 (Barmes.

Carroll and Hel ton), (Baimes and Henon), (Barmes, Carrol and Helton). Houston 102 020 103 I 12 0 Chicago 000 000 101 2 11 0 agrounded out tor Aanjsma In tie 5th. b-grounded into fielder's chocs for Guzmen In the 7th. c-poppsd out tor Pettme in the 8th. d-doubled for Ohman in the 9th.

LOB Houston 8, Chicago 10. 2B Berk-man (11), PrWeson (9), Barrett (9). Never (1). Mabry (2). HR Nevti (3), off Pettme: Burke (2), oft Marshal RBtaBurke (15).

Lane (26). Berkman 3 (56), PrWeson 3 (33). Ausmus (15), Pierre (7), Nevin (5). SB-Burke (5). GIDP Ausmus.

Runners left in scoring position Houston 4 (Bruntletl 3, AEverett): Chicago 5 (Barrett ARamiraz, Mutton 2, Marshall). Runners moved up Ausmus 2. DP Chicago 1 (ARarrwez, Barrett and Nevin). Houston 9 ER BBSO NP ERA Perm. 6-7 7 5 1 1 1 5 116546 TreMter 1 0 0 0 0 7 4 58 Wheeler 2 0 0 0 1 15 4 61 Lidge 1 3 1 1 0 2 26 499 Chicago ER BB SO NP ERA 4 7 5 5 4 1 86 482 Aardema 1 0 0 0 0 1 15 7.11 Guzman 2 111 1 1 31 675 Nona 1 1 0 0 0 0 15 456 Ohman 1 3 3 3 0 0 16 514 Marshal pitched to 3 baiters tie Sth.

Inherited uinners-eoored Wheeler 1-0, Aardsma 1-0. HBP by Ohman (Lane). WP Lidge 2. Lkrckree Home, Dale Scott First Lence Barksdale; Second. Dan iaaaogna; Trwd, Bob Davidson.

3:13. A 40,563 000 001 000 1 0 100 020 Oil a-grounded out for Smoltz ti tie 7th. b- ER BBSO NP ERA 8 6 1 1 4 4 97 4 91 1 2 1 1 0 1 13 371 1 2 0 0 0 1 20 391 1 0 0 0 1 0 13 260 PUR ER BBSO NP ERA SM I 1 1 3 87 1 70 SggW4-4 Dohmann Cortes King Washington CCnr 3-4 SRftrera Stanton struck out lor LaRoche in the 8th. c-wafced for Tankersley in the 8th. d-grounded into double play for Remknger the 9th.

luo Ananta Honda 4. Kfjam 1 0 0 0 0 4 135 1 0 23 557 14 9 3 110 0 10 0 0 Bray (11). Uggta (11). Johnson (1). HR-leeobe (9).

oft Smoltz. R8b Francoeur (44). Uoota (37). Jacobs (35), Oavo (191. Johnson (1).

SB (7). CS Uggta (2) SF CvO- 0 1 13 000 0 2 14 350 Inherited ruriners-ecored SRrvera 1-1. GIDP LaRoche. BetemiL Jacobs. 166 off Stanton (Atkms) 1, off O'Connor Runners left in scoring position Atlanta 5 (AJones.

Diaz. Smoltz 3); Florida 2 (Atkrel 1, oil Fogg (Schneider) 1, oil Fogg (NJohnson) 1. HBP-by Cortes (JGuHen), by O'Connor (Barmes). (HaHarrwBZ. ltoss).

DP Atlanta 1 (LaRoche, Reniena and Umrjrae Home. Adam rowdy: net. Ma LaRoche). Florida 2 iUqota HaRarrwez and Maer Second. Bran Gorman.

Thro, Eric Cooper. Associated Press Jacobs), (Helms, HaRamraz and Helms). 2.47. A 51.689 (40.382). av Oia, e.4.4i,i.