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Pineiro helps Cards snap nine-game losing streak

Sep 16, 2007 - 5:28 AM By Jim Walsh PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Joel Pineiro recovered from a shaky start and the St. Louis Cardinals made a four-run third inning stand up in defeating the Chicago Cubs, 4-3 to gain a split in a day-night doubleheader and snap a nine-game losing streak.

The defending World Champion Cardinals kept their slim playoff hopes alive, pulling back to six games behind the Central Division-leading Cubs with 15 games left in the season.

The Cubs (77-72) lost for the first time in five games and hold a one game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers (75-72), who defeated Cincinnati.

Pineiro (6-4) was coming off his worst start since being acquired by the Cardinals at the trade deadline, giving up six runs in 3 1/3 innings against the Cubs at Wrigley on Monday. It looked like it would be a repeat performance as Chicago gained the early advantage, getting to Pineiro for three runs in the first two frames, but some sharp defense prevented things from degenerating further.

A single by Aramis Ramirez scored Jacque Jones in the first, advancing Derrek Lee to third with one out. Pineiro walked Cliff Floyd to load the bases and Mark DeRosa lined a ball to center fielder Jim Edmonds, who gunned down Lee trying to score for an inning-ending double play.

It looked like Pineiro might avoid further damage in the second when Cardinals left fielder So Taguchi threw home to nab Ryan Theriot attempting to score from second on Cubs starter Sean Marshall's single.

"I probably wouldn't be in the ball game if those two guys had scored," said Pineiro, who improved to 3-0 in four starts at home. "I told myself, I didn't prepare myself to go three or four innings so I've got to trust in my stuff."

But the escape was temporary as moments later Soriano connected for his second two-run home run of the day and it looked like the Cubs might have an easy game.

However the Cardinals came back with the aid of some poor Cubs defense and took the lead in the third, scoring four runs, and putting an end to Marshall's day.

Marshall (7-8) retired Albert Pujols on a groundout to start the inning and appeared to have struck out Ryan Ludwick, but catcher Jason Kendall dropped the third strike and Ludwick was safe at first as Kendall's throw pulled Lee off the bag. The Cardinals took advantage as Edmonds drew a walk, Yadier Molina connected for a two-run double and Scott Spiezio drove home Molina with a single.

"The bottom line is, I didn't make that throw," Kendall said. "It changed the momentum and they won. I went to throw it and I had to step over the bat, I should have taken my time to make the throw, it's a play 999 times out of a thousand."