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Cards, Marlins resume set in Florida

Aug 5, 2011 - 2:53 PM (Sports Network) - Albert Pujols insists that the Cardinals aren't looking past the Marlins in anticipation of a big rematch next week with the National League Central-leading Brewers.

Few would blame St. Louis though given Florida's injury problems and recent struggles by default ace Anibal Sanchez.

The Cards try to make it two in a row this evening over the Marlins in the continuation of a four-game set at Sun Life Stadium.

St. Louis came into last night's opener having lost three of four, including a pair of setbacks to Milwaukee that dropped the Cards 3 1/2 games off the pace for first place. They were able to pick up a half-game on the idle Brewers on Thursday after powering to a 7-4 victory over the Marlins.

Matt Holliday hit a three-run homer, Pujols had three hits, a homer and three runs scored and Skip Schumaker notched a two-run double for the Cardinals, who will host the Brewers for three games starting on Tuesday. A solid series over the Marlins could have the Cards in position to grab first place back from Milwaukee.

"We have still got three more games left here. It's just one win. We just need to continue to do that [Friday]," Pujols said.

Neither starter was effective as St. Louis' Kyle Lohse lasted just three innings and gave up three runs on seven hits and three walks. Florida's Clay Hensley, meanwhile, gave up six runs and recorded just four outs before getting pulled. His last pitch of the game hit St. Louis' David Freese in the head with the bases loaded, knocking the infielder out of the game with a mild concussion.

"I didn't feel bad out there and that's the thing. I didn't feel like I was doing much different than I've done all my other starts. I just didn't have any idea where my ball was going tonight. It's hands down the worst I've pitched in my entire career," Hensley said.

Logan Morrison drove in two runs for the Marlins, who had a three-game win streak come to an end in the opener of a 10-game homestand and also lost second baseman Omar Infante to a fractured right finger in the fifth inning.

Florida is already without shortstop Hanley Ramirez, who suffered a left shoulder injury on Tuesday and did not play last night. He is not expected to return to the lineup until Saturday at the earliest.

Down a pair of starters, the Marlins hope that Sanchez can find the win column for the first time since June 10 this evening. The right-hander is 0-3 in nine starts since that victory, posting a 4.85 earned run average in that span.

Sanchez lasted just five innings at Atlanta on Saturday in a loss, yielding four runs on eight hits. The big blow came in the fourth frame when he allowed a three-run homer to former teammate Dan Uggla.

The 27-year-old fell to 6-4 with a 3.74 ERA in 22 games this season and struggled when he faced the Cardinals on May 3. Sanchez allowed four runs, including three earned, on six hits and six walks over 4 1/3 innings of a no- decision, giving him a 1-1 mark and 2.95 ERA in three lifetime outings against the Cards.

Taking the hill for the Cardinals will be Jake Westbrook, who was cruising last time out before letting things get away from him late in his outing.

Westbrook, who was 3-0 over his previous seven starts, retired the first 16 batters faced on Sunday versus the Cubs before yielding four runs in the sixth inning. One of those came on a bases-loaded walk and he was charged with three hits and three walks over the loss, his first since June 12.

"The inning kind of snowballed on me and they put up a big inning," Westbrook told his team's website. "With the offense that we have, we have to try to avoid those innings. If we keep it to one or two runs, it's a different ballgame."

The 33-year-old righty fell to 9-5 with a 4.92 ERA this season, including a 6-2 mark and 3.59 ERA in 11 road games.

Westbrook faced the Marlins on May 5 and gave up three runs over 6 1/3 innings, striking out eight in a no-decision. Lifetime against Florida he is 1-0 with a 2.95 ERA in three starts.

Westbrook will be without his starting catcher in Yadier Molina, who began serving his five-game suspension yesterday for his inappropriate actions toward umpire Rob Drake on Thursday.

The Marlins and Cardinals split a four-game series in St. Louis in early May.