• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Ankiel, Cardinals aim to take rubber game from Dodgers

Aug 12, 2007 - 2:15 PM LA Dodgers (60-56) at St Louis (54-60), 2:15 pm EDT

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) - Rick Ankiel looks to continue his impressive return to the big leagues when the St. Louis Cardinals try to take the rubber game of a three-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.

Ankiel, who recorded his first-career multi-homer game on Saturday, has hit three homers since being called up from Class AAA Memphis on Thursday.

The 28-year-old has undergone an amazing transformation from top pitching prospect to power-hitting outfielder. He homered in his first game on Thursday and hit two more to back six strong innings from Braden Looper in 6-1.

Anthony Reyes (1-11, 5.66 ERA) takes the hill for St. Louis (54-60), which has won three of four and trail the Milwaukee Brewers (62-55) by 6 1/2 games in the National League Central. Reyes was a tough-luck loser his last time out, holding the San Diego Padres to one run and seven hits in seven innings of a 4-0 loss on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles continued to flounder on Saturday, losing for the ninth time in 11 games. The Dodgers (60-56) have been shut out four times in the last eight games and have scored just 15 runs in that span. The futility has cost them as they've fallen six games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks (67-51) in the National League West.

Mark Hendrickson (4-6, 4.63 ERA) get the ball for Los Angeles as he aims for his first win since July 14. Hendrickson is 0-2 with a 7.15 ERA in his last five games - four starts. The lefthander allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings in a 4-0 loss to Cincinnati on Tuesday.