Joel Pineiro's 3-hitter snaps Cardinals' slide

[May 20, 2009]  ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Joel Pineiro threw a three-hitter for his first shutout in six seasons and first complete game since 2006 as the St. Louis Cardinals snapped a three-game slide with a 3-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night.

Colby Rasmus hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning for the Cardinals, who rebounded after getting swept in a three-game series by the Brewers. St. Louis has won only three of 10 overall, but expects to get pitcher Chris Carpenter and outfielder Rick Ankiel back for Wednesday's game.

Pineiro retired 23 of his final 24 batters, interrupted only by Mike Fontenot's two-out double in the fifth, and recorded 17 outs on grounders.

Left-handed hitters had been only 4 for 27 against Lilly (5-3) this season before Rasmus, a rookie, hit his fourth homer on a 1-2 pitch to put St. Louis ahead. Lilly entered the game limiting all hitters to six hits in 83 at-bats with two strikes.

The Cardinals also scored in the first on Yadier Molina's two-out RBI single.

The Cubs have lost two straight after winning five in a row and were shut out for the third time.

Pineiro (5-3) faced one batter more than the minimum and needed only 92 pitches to compile his 10th career complete game and first since May 1, 2006, with Seattle at Minnesota. The three-hitter matched his career best set with the Mariners on July 26, 2003, against the Rangers, also his last shutout.

Pineiro, who struck out five with no walks, faced the minimum through the first four innings with the help of catcher Molina's pickoff of Alfonso Soriano in the first and a double-play ball in the second.

Pineiro was 4-0 with a 3.76 ERA in April but 0-3 with 6.30 ERA in his first three May starts.

Lilly, who won his previous three starts, allowed three runs in seven innings.

Notes: The Cubs have scored four or more runs in all 21 wins, and three or fewer in 13 of their 16 losses. ... Derrek Lee, who singled in the second, is 5 for 40 on the road. ... The Cardinals batted the pitcher eighth for the second straight game and fifth time this season. Manager Tony La Russa said he likes to do it whenever the team is struggling. ... Molina has 29 career pickoffs, three this year. ... The Cardinals have two complete games, with Kyle Lohse beating the Astros on April 12.

[Associated Press; By R.B. FALLSTROM]

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