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Phillies-Cardinals Preview

Jul 21, 2010 - 6:10 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Philadelphia (48-45) at St. Louis (53-41), 8:15 p.m. EDT

The St. Louis Cardinals are on the verge of their longest winning streak in nearly six years. The Philadelphia Phillies would settle for just one victory at this point.

The NL Central-leading Cardinals go for their eighth win in a row Wednesday night when they continue their four-game series against a Phillies team that is struggling on the road.

After hitting a season-high four home runs in Monday's 8-4 victory, St. Louis (53-41) hit two more Tuesday in defeating Philadelphia 7-1.

"You win six or seven in a row, whatever it is, you've got to play pretty well, especially with the quality of opponents we've played," said left fielder Matt Holliday, who hit a three-run homer Tuesday and is batting .390 (16 for 41) with six home runs and 17 RBIs in his last 11 games.

"The pitching's been great and we've able to score some runs, so it's a good formula to win."

The Cardinals will try to win eight in a row for the first time since a nine-game surge Aug. 27-Sept. 5, 2004.

The Phillies (48-45) are searching for answers after possibly losing starting pitcher Jamie Moyer (strained left elbow) for an extended period and falling to 1-5 on their eight-game trip that started after the All-Star break. The two-time defending NL champs are a season-high seven games out in the NL East.

"If we continue to play the way we're playing, I don't know if there's a trade to make that would make us a playoff contender," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said before Tuesday's game. "We have to play better or we're not going to go anywhere."

The Phillies have dropped nine of 11 on the road and face a Cardinals team trying to win its eighth straight at home. The last time St. Louis accomplished that feat was a nine-game run April 9-25, 2009.

The Cardinals will send Jaime Garcia (8-4, 2.27 ERA) to the mound after the rookie left-hander threw 82 pitches and lasted 3 1-3 innings in Friday's 8-4 victory over the Dodgers. He gave up two runs and eight hits in his second-shortest start of the season.

Garcia had a much better day in a 6-3 victory in Philadelphia on May 3. Making his first career start against the Phillies, Garcia allowed one run and three hits while striking out six in six innings.

Phillies right-hander Joe Blanton (3-5, 6.21) surrendered four runs and 10 hits in 6 2-3 innings in that game, losing for the first time against St. Louis after going 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA in his first three starts.

Blanton matched a season high with eight strikeouts and didn't receive a decision after giving up three runs in seven innings of Friday's 4-3 road loss to the Cubs.

He is 1-3 with a 7.06 ERA in seven starts away from home.

Ryan Howard, the NL player of the week, is batting .375 with four homers and nine RBIs on the Phillies' trip.