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Diamondbacks-Cardinals Preview

Jun 29, 2010 - 5:08 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Arizona (30-46) at St. Louis (41-34), 8:15 p.m. EDT

Adam Wainwright leading the St. Louis Cardinals to wins at Busch Stadium has been a constant this season.

That success can also extend to his off days.

The right-hander looks to extend his home winning streak to eight Tuesday night when the Cardinals host the Arizona Diamondbacks in the middle game of this series.

Wainwright (10-5, 2.47 ERA) has won all seven of his home starts behind a 1.67 ERA while holding opponents to a .190 average and one homer. He hasn't had nearly the same success in nine road games, going 3-5 with a 3.20 ERA.

Wainwright came up big at home again Monday, driving in a run on a fielder's choice before scoring the winner to clinch a 6-5 victory over Arizona. His 18th career pinch-hit appearance helped spur a three-run rally in the ninth as the Cardinals (42-34) capitalized on two Diamondbacks' throwing errors.

A return to the mound at Busch could be just what Wainwright needs to rebound from perhaps his worst performance of the season as he attempts to become the first Cardinals starter to win eight straight at home since Matt Morris in 2001.

Wainwright was tagged for season highs of five runs and three homers in four innings of a 5-0 defeat at Toronto on Thursday. The outing was his shortest start since he also lasted four innings at Pittsburgh on Sept. 13, 2008.

"I don't make a habit of pitching games like that," Wainwright said. "I can put it out of my memory real fast."

He's 3-2 with a 2.59 ERA in five starts against Arizona (30-47), winning two of three at Busch.

A seventh win in eight home meetings with Arizona could put the Cardinals back atop the NL Central. They trail first-place Cincinnati by one-half game.

The Diamondbacks, occupants of last place in the West, have dropped 17 of 20 as visitors.

They're hoping Dontrelle Willis (1-0, 4.67) can put another wild outing behind him.

The left-hander tied a season high with seven walks while allowing two runs and one hit with a wild pitch in 2 1-3 innings of a 6-5, 10-inning loss to the Yankees on Wednesday. He's walked 21, hit another batter and thrown four wild pitches in 17 1-3 innings over four starts since being acquired from Detroit on June 1.

Willis had a bullpen session Saturday in an effort to find a rhythm.

"He threw a ton in the bullpen trying to find the feel and the rhythm and some consistency with his delivery so we'll see," manager A.J. Hinch told the team's official website. "When he does lock that in, he's pretty effective but he hasn't locked it in, and that's the tough part.

"It's not against the rules to misfire a couple times, but you have to have the ability to make the adjustments. He's got a tough start ahead of him against a tough lineup in St. Louis, so we'll see."

Willis' last four starts against the Cardinals have resulted in losses for his club. He is 0-3 with a 6.41 ERA in those games.

Albert Pujols is 5 for 14 with three doubles against the southpaw.

Pujols, who had an RBI double Monday, has a .409 average with four homers and 19 RBIs in 20 home games against Arizona.