UPDATE 2-Boston Scientific net down 15 percent on charges

(Recasts, adds earnings details, analyst comments, byline)

By Susan Kelly

CHICAGO, July 21 (Reuters) - Boston Scientific Corp (BSX.N) said on Monday quarterly net earnings fell 15 percent, hurt by declining sales of its drug-eluting stents to open clogged heart arteries and by charges for restructuring and divestitures.

U.S. sales of drug-eluting stents fell 30 percent as rival Medtronic Inc's <MDT.N Endeavor stent pushed into the market.

The launch of Endeavor in February ended a four-year duopoly enjoyed by Boston Scientific's Taxus and Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ.N) Cypher stents, and Wall Street has been braced for market share shifts.

Boston Scientific's adjusted earnings exceeded analysts' average expectations by 2 cents.

"This quarter bears a striking resemblance in character to the past two quarters, namely just hitting the top line expectations and doing a little bit better on the bottom line due to very careful cost controls," said RBC Capital Markets analyst Phil Nalbone.

Natick, Massachusetts-based Boston Scientific said its second-quarter net income was $98 million, or 7 cents a share, compared with net income of $115 million, or 8 cents a share, a year ago.

Excluding special items, its second-quarter earnings were 20 cents a share.