• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Diamondbacks-Cardinals Preview

Jul 19, 2009 - 5:22 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Arizona (38-52) at St. Louis (50-42), 2:15 p.m. EDT

When Joel Pineiro has pitched well this season, he's been dominant at times for the St. Louis Cardinals.

On Sunday, Pineiro looks for another strong start in the finale of a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Busch Stadium.

Though Pineiro (7-9, 3.20 ERA) has been plagued by inconsistency this season, he allowed one run and three hits in a 5-1 win at Milwaukee on July 9 to match a career high with his third complete game this year.

"He's pitched so much better than his record," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said of Pineiro, who's gone the distance in his last two victories.

The right-hander is 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA in his last four starts after going 1-8 with a 3.77 ERA in his previous nine outings.

"As long as you give your team the chance to win, it's going to be all right," said Pineiro, who's 2-0 with a 6.35 ERA in three starts versus Arizona.

Pineiro got plenty of support in a 12-7 win at Arizona (39-52) on April 15, but his teammates will try for a better effort at the plate after falling to former Cardinal Dan Haren and the Diamondbacks, 4-2 on Saturday to even the set.

After homering twice in Friday's 6-1 victory, Albert Pujols drove in his major league-leading 90th run for the Cardinals (50-43), who have lost three of their last five and hold a two-game lead in the NL Central.

Pujols has three homers and seven RBIs in five games versus Arizona this season. He's 5 for 8 with a home run and four RBIs against the Diamondbacks' Yusmeiro Petit (0-3, 7.91).

Ryan Ludwick, who's batting .439 (18 for 41) with 17 RBIs during an 11-game hitting streak, is 2 for 5 with two homers and three RBIs versus Petit, who'll try for an eighth time to earn his first win of the season.

The right-hander allowed three runs and six hits in 5 1-3 innings, but didn't factor in the decision after Arizona's bullpen allowed 10 runs in the eighth inning and lost 14-7 to Florida on July 9.

Petit is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA as a starter versus St. Louis.

Miguel Montero had four hits, including a homer, and Mark Reynolds added three hits Saturday for Arizona, which doubled its run total from its previous two contests.

Earning more playing time because of a back injury to starting catcher Chris Snyder, Montero is batting .417 (25 for 60) with four homers and 10 RBIs over his last 15 games for the Diamondbacks.

"He's done well," manager A.J. Hinch told the Diamondbacks' Web site of Montero. "He's settled in nicely in the middle of our order and is producing. We've always liked his bat and his energy, and to see him on the field and really take a leadership role has been good to see."

Arizona has won eight of its last 11 contests overall and is looking to win its second straight road series. The Diamondbacks took two of three from Colorado from July 3-5.