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Cardinals continue playoff push against Reds

Sep 1, 2007 - 2:22 PM Cincinnati (62-73) at St Louis (65-66), 7:15 pm EDT

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) - The St. Louis Cardinals will look to narrow their deficit in the National League playoff race when they take on the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.

The Cardinals sit just two games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs (68-65) in the National League Central, but are 7 1/2 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks (75-61) in the NL wild card race.

The Cardinals took the first game of the three-game set against the Reds on Friday, 8-5, on the strength of a grand slam by pitcher-turned-outfielder Rick Ankiel. The grand slam was the first of Ankiel's career, as he continues to make a seamless transition from the mound to the field.

The 28-year-old Ankiel is hitting .328 with six home runs in 18 games for the Cardinals since being recalled from Class AAA Memphis on August 9.

Adam Wainwright (12-9, 3.86 ERA) is in a transition of his own. Wainwright was the Cardinals' closer last season during their World Series run, but has experienced limited success as a starter this season.

The 26-year-old righthander has won his last two decisions, and was spectacular in his last start, allowing just one run on six hits in seven innings while striking out five, as the Cardinals won, 4-1, over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday.

Rookie Phil Dumatrait (0-2, 14.18) will look for his first win of the season when he takes the mound for the Reds. Dumatrait has been awful since joining the Reds rotation on August 2, lasting just two innings in each of his last two starts.

In his last outing, the 26-year-old righthander surrendered eight runs on seven hits as the Atlanta Braves routed the Reds, 14-4, on August 20. In four starts this season, Dumatrait has allowed 21 runs on 27 hits in 13 1/3 innings.