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Brewers-Cardinals Preview

Jun 5, 2010 - 5:47 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Milwaukee (22-32) at St. Louis (31-23), 4:10 p.m. EDT

Beating Milwaukee at home had been a problem for the St. Louis Cardinals of late. However, the way the Brewers are struggling, that may no longer be the case.

After snapping a four-game home skid to the Brewers, the surging Cardinals look for a third straight victory as the NL Central foes continue a weekend series Saturday at Busch Stadium.

Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick each drove in two runs while Adam Wainwright threw a two-hitter for his first career shutout in Friday's 8-0 win.

The victory was the sixth in eight games for the Cardinals (32-23), but only the fourth in 17 at home against Milwaukee.

St. Louis could be headed for two more victories this weekend against the Brewers (22-33), who've lost five of six.

Rickie Weeks and Cory Hart mustered the only hits as a Brewers lineup ranked near the top of the majors with 270 runs was blanked for the sixth time.

"We've been shut out a few times but that was the best pitching performance we've seen all year," manager Ken Macha said of Wainwright's performance.

Despite Friday's effort, a lack of offense hasn't been the main reason for Milwaukee's struggles in 2010. The Brewers' 5.37 team ERA is among the worst in the majors.

The Cardinals tagged Randy Wolf for five runs in 6 2-3 innings. Ludwick had two hits and is batting .389 with 11 RBIs in his last nine games.

Pujols is 9 for 17 with seven RBIs in his last five games. He's 2 for 4 with a homer against Milwaukee scheduled starter Chris Narveson (4-3, 5.81), who looks to avoid a third straight loss.

Narveson has a 2.25 ERA in seven relief appearances versus the Cardinals, but will make his first start against them in this contest.

Narveson, 3-3 with a 5.45 ERA since entering the rotation April 28, pitched five scoreless innings before he allowed five runs and couldn't make it out of the sixth in a 13-5 loss at Florida on Monday.

He'll be the second of three straight left-handers the Brewers will start in the series. Manny Parra is scheduled to go in Sunday's finale.

"We have to see how these guys perform," Macha told the Brewers' official website. "If you want to step up, step up and claim a spot."

Left-handed hitting outfielder Colby Rasmus hit his first homer against a southpaw Friday for the Cardinals.

"It felt good (with) the struggles I've had against lefties," said Rasmus, who's 7 for 16 with two homers and five RBIs in his last four games. "I try to fight hard against them."

With injuries to Kyle Lohse and Brad Penny, St. Louis' Adam Ottavino (0-1, 6.35 ERA) makes his second career start Saturday. He gave up four runs and walked six in 5 2-3 innings of a 5-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs last Saturday.

"I'd give him a passing mark," manager Tony La Russa told the Cardinals' official website of the 24-year-old right-hander's debut. "He had some control issues."

Milwaukee's Ryan Braun is hitting .313 this season, but went 0 for 4 on Friday and is 3 for 16 against St. Louis in 2010.