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Cardinals face Diamondbacks amid Ankiel controversy

Sep 7, 2007 - 2:20 PM St Louis (68-68) at Arizona (78-63) 9:40 pm EDT

PHOENIX (Ticker) - Rick Ankiel's transformation from pitcher to slugger took a huge twist on Thursday.

Ankiel and the St. Louis Cardinals open a three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday amid a swirl of controversy surrounding the new-found basher.

Ankiel homered twice and drove in a career-high seven runs in a 16-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday. However, later that night the New York Daily News reported that Ankiel had received human growth hormone from a pharmacy in Florida during the 2004 season.

Suffice to say, the focus will be on Ankiel more so than the fact that the Cardinals are battling for position in the National League Central pennant race. St. Louis, which has won four of six, trails the first-place Chicago Cubs (71-68) and Milwaukee Brewers (71-68) by one game.

After scoring just eight runs in the first two games of their series with Pittsburgh, the Cardinals broke out in the finale, and will now face a slumping Brandon Webb.

Webb (14-10, 2.9 ERA), whose 42-inning scoreless streak ended on August 22, has lost two straight decisions, surrendering 10 runs and 12 hits in his last 12 1/3 innings. Prior to this rough stretch, the reigning Cy Young Award winner had won six straight.

Meanwhile, Adam Wainwright (13-9, 3.78) is headed in the opposite direction of Webb, aiming for his third straight win. The former closer allowed two runs - one earned - and six hits in 5 2/3 innings of an 11-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.

Arizona, which has already surpassed last season's win total of 76, leads San Diego (76-63) by one game in the NL West.