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Cardinals begin series in Chicago without La Russa

May 10, 2011 - 2:57 PM (Sports Network) - Cardinals long-time ace Chris Carpenter makes yet another attempt to end a season-long skid tonight when St. Louis opens a three-game series at Wrigley Field with the rival Chicago Cubs.

Carpenter, the 2005 NL Cy Young Award recipient and winner of 16 games as recently as last season, is still winless after two losses and five no- decisions in seven starts.

The Cardinals are just 1-6 in games he's pitched, yet they've used contributions from others to take a one-game lead over Cincinnati -- four games over the Cubs -- in the National League's Central Division.

St. Louis manager Tony La Russa will not be with the team tonight because of a right eye condition that has caused swelling and pain. La Russa, who has won a World Series in both leagues as manager, had an annual physical on Monday to treat a viral condition, shingles.

Bench coach Joe Pettini, third base coach Jose Oquendo and pitching coach Dave Duncan will handle managerial duties until La Russa is able to return.

On Sunday, unheralded Kyle McClellan pitched into the ninth inning and Colby Rasmus hit a two-run double as St. Louis downed Milwaukee, 3-1, in the rubber match of a three-game set at Busch Stadium.

McClellan (5-0) ended up allowing one run on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts for the win. Fernando Salas notched his third save by recording the final out of the contest.

Nick Punto also knocked in a run and Tyler Greene went 3-for-3 with a run scored for the Cardinals, who have won four of six overall.

The usually stingy Carpenter, who posted a 2.24 earned run average in 28 starts in 2009, has allowed 10 hits in each of his last two starts as the opposition is batting .268 against him for the season.

In 43 innings overall, he's allowed 45 hits and 23 runs with 13 walks and 33 strikeouts.

Tonight's start will be the 23rd of his career against Chicago. He's 10-6 across the first 22 with a 3.10 ERA in 145 1/3 innings.

For the Cubs, Venezuelan righty Carlos Zambrano, who's in the midst of a career resurgence after a controversial 2010, will take the hill Tuesday.

Now 29 years old, Zambrano was briefly demoted to the bullpen last season while compiling an 11-6 record with four holds in 36 appearances (20 starts).

He is 12-6 lifetime against St. Louis with a 3.42 ERA in 173 2/3 innings.

Zambrano has won four of five overall decisions this spring including two in a row, as he's beaten Arizona and Los Angeles while combining to allow nine hits and three runs in 14 innings.

On Sunday in Chicago, Drew Stubbs went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and Johnny Cueto was solid on the mound in his 2011 debut, as the Reds handled the Cubs, 2-0, in the rubber match of a three-game series at Wrigley.

Ryan Dempster (1-4) went seven full frames in the start for Chicago, allowing two runs on five hits to suffer the loss.

Chicago went 9-6 against St. Louis a year ago.