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Cardinals seek reversal of fortune vs. Brewers

Sep 29, 2006 - 1:08 PM Milwaukee (74-85) at St. Louis (81-77) 8:10 pm EDT

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) - It is time for the St. Louis Cardinals to push the panic button after seeing a once-comfortable division lead virtually disappear.

Jeff Weaver tries to stop the bleeding for the Cardinals on Friday as they host the Milwaukee Brewers in the second contest of their four-game weekend series.

After holding a seven-game lead in the National League Central Division with 13 to play, St. Louis has dropped eight of nine and is on the verge of one of the most dramatic collapses in history. The Houston Astros have won nine straight and are one-half game back.

Since being acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in midseason, Weaver (7-14, 5.79 ERA) is 0-3 with a 6.82 ERA at home. After beating Milwaukee on September 19, he did not get a decision Monday against the Astros after allowing three runs and seven hits in six innings.

The Brewers give the ball to Chris Capuano (11-11, 3.87), who is just 1-7 with a 4.84 ERA since being named to the NL All-Star squad. Winless in six starts since August 22, he surrendered seven runs and 11 hits in 5 1/3 frames Sunday against the Giants without getting a decision.

Bill Hall homered among his three hits and Milwaukee scored the first eight runs of the game en route to Thursday's 9-4 triumph over St. Louis. The Brewers are 6-7 against the Cardinals this year.