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Cardinals Lohse aims for fourth straight win

Jun 8, 2008 - 2:55 PM St. Louis (37-27) at Houston (32-31) 2:05 pm. EDT

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Kyle Lohse aims for a career-best fourth straight victory on Sunday as the St. Louis Cardinals wrap up a three-game series with the Houston Astros.

Lohse (6-2, 3.87 ERA) has been one of a slew of surprising pitchers for the Cardinals this season. The righthander struggled last season, going 9-12 with a 4.67 ERA with Cincinnati and Philadelphia before being signed in the offseason.

The righthander has allowed just two runs in his last 17 innings. The way the Cardinals are scoring runs, he may not have to be too sharp. Ryan Ludwick hit a two-run homer and Skip Schumaker drove in three runs as the Cardinals rolled to a 8-4 victory on Saturday.

St. Louis has scored 28 runs over its last five games.

The Cardinals, who have won seven of the last 11 meetings between the teams, will try and extend that dominance against Wandy Rodriguez (2-1, 2.38). Rodriguez allowed five hits in six innings of a 2-0 victory over Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

It was the second start back for Rodriguez since missing a month with a groin injury. Rodriguez is 1-5 with a 5.31 ERA in eight career appearances - seven starts - against St. Louis.