• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Cardinals-Reds Preview

Aug 11, 2010 - 4:16 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

St. Louis (62-49) at Cincinnati (64-49), 12:35 p.m. EDT

The St. Louis Cardinals made their feelings for Brandon Phillips known Tuesday, a day after the second baseman expressed his contempt for the Cincinnati Reds' chief NL Central competition.

What Phillips might hate even more than the Cardinals is the thought of his club being swept by them.

Phillips' comments incited a benches-clearing brawl early in another St. Louis victory at Great American Ball Park, and the Cardinals can officially grab first place by completing a three-game sweep Wednesday afternoon.

There was no need for another compelling storyline in Cincinnati this week, but Phillips added one to the Central's first-place battle. The All-Star said before Monday's opener that he hates the Cardinals (63-49), referring to manager Tony La Russa's club as a bunch of complainers.

La Russa responded prior to Tuesday's game, saying "it doesn't involve us, so I'm not worried about it," but when Phillips stepped to the plate a few hours later, St. Louis delivered a different retort.

Phillips tapped catcher Yadier Molina on the shin guard in a friendly gesture to start the bottom of the first, but Molina was taken aback. The two exchanged words, both benches and bullpens emptied, and La Russa and Reds manager Dusty Baker were ejected after the seven-minute skirmish.

"I know our guys," La Russa said. "This is not the first time that we've been challenged. You just go up and down our roster - we've got a bunch of guys that are very tough characters."

Once the altercation ended, the Cardinals again got the best of the Reds (64-50). Molina homered and Matt Holliday had four hits and three RBIs as St. Louis won 8-4 to put the clubs into a virtual first-place tie.

"They're in first place, but we showed we've got good talent and we're going to compete," said Molina, a .367 hitter with nine RBIs in his last eight games at Cincinnati.

With Adam Wainwright (16-6, 2.07 ERA) set to take the hill Wednesday, the Cardinals should feel good about their chances to complete their first sweep in Cincinnati since May 2-4, 2005.

The right-hander continued his torrid stretch Friday at Florida. Wainwright fired a two-hitter, striking out seven, in a 7-0 victory.

"That was masterful. Artistic. He had everything working," La Russa said. "It could be an unofficial no-hitter, because the two hits were a swinging bunt and a blooper."

Wainwright is 6-1 with a 1.28 ERA in his last eight starts, allowing one run or fewer seven times.

He hasn't been on top of his game versus Cincinnati, however. Wainwright is 2-3 with a 5.05 ERA in six starts in the series, including 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA in two road starts against the Reds this season.

Phillips certainly won't be looking forward to seeing Wainwright. He's 3 for 19 (.158) against the Cardinals ace, and hitting .215 in his last 21 games versus St. Louis.

The Reds counter with Bronson Arroyo (12-6, 3.83), who's looking for a third consecutive strong outing. Arroyo surrendered two unearned runs over seven innings in a 5-2 win over Atlanta on July 31, then held the Cubs to five hits over seven innings in Friday's 3-0 victory.

"He's 'Steady Eddie,'" Baker told the Reds' official website. "He's about as steady and dependable as any pitcher you'll find."

Arroyo wasn't steady May 31 at St. Louis, surrendering seven runs, 10 hits and five walks over 4 1-3 innings in a 12-4 loss. He's 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA in his last three home starts against the Cardinals, though.

Third baseman Felipe Lopez is 13 for 30 with two homers against Arroyo since 2009.