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Maddux looks to snap lengthy winless streak vs. Cardinals

Aug 8, 2007 - 2:32 PM San Diego (61-51) at St Louis (51-59) 8:10 pm EDT

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) - After a rough end of July, the San Diego Padres are getting back on track, and it's no surprise their pitching is the reason.

Greg Maddux (7-8, 4.20 ERA) takes the mound as the Padres continue a four-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.

Jake Peavy extended his scoreless inning streak to 19 innings, allowing just three hits in six innings and Kevin Kouzmanoff drove in a pair in a 4-0 win on Tuesday. It was the major league-leading 16th shutout of the season for San Diego, which boasts the best ERA in the league at 3.50.

However, Maddux has been a deterrent to that mark, having gone 0-4 with an ERA of 5.35 in his last seven starts. The good news is Maddux should get back on track against the Cardinals, as he has won eight of his last 11 starts against them. On Friday, Maddux allowed three runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings, but did not figure into the decision in a 4-3 win over San Francisco.

San Diego lost eight of 11 to end July, but has won five of seven to begin August to has pull with one game of the Arizona Diamondbacks (63-51) for first place in the National League West.

As for St. Louis, it has lost six of seven and will look to Kip Wells (4-13, 5.58) to help stem the tide.

Wells, who will try and avoid becoming the majors' first 14-game loser, pitched well in his last start but came away with a no-decision. The righthander allowed two runs and six hits in six innings in a 3-2 loss to Washington on Friday, and remains winless in his last three starts.