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Howard, slumping Phillies seek rare home series win

Jul 10, 2008 - 11:09 AM St. Louis (51-41) at Philadelphia (49-43) 1:05 pm. EDT

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Ryan Howard and the Philadelphia Phillies aim to win a series at home for the first time in more than a month on Thursday in the finale of a three-game set with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Howard is coming to life, and Philadelphia hopes its high-powered offense follows suit. The Phillies have lost nine of the last 11 contests at Citizens Bank Park, and are averaging just 2.8 runs in that span.

Philadelphia was shut out on Tuesday, but Howard helped it snap a four-game skid by belting his 25th home run in the eighth inning of a 4-2 victory on Wednesday. Howard, who is tied with teammate Chase Utley for the major league lead in home runs, is hitting .340 (16-for-47) with six homers and 15 RBI during a season-best 12-game hitting streak.

The 2006 National League MVP will try and help the Phillies win a series here for the first time since they took three of four from Cincinnati, June 2-5.

Howard and his teammates will be facing Braden Looper (9-6, 4.15 ERA), who will be making his first career start against Philadelphia. The converted reliever has gone 2-2 with a 2.58 ERA in his previous six starts.

The Phillies counter with Jamie Moyer (7-6, 4.12), who allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings, but did not factor into the decision in a 9-4 loss to New York on Saturday. The 45-year-old lefthander is 0-3 with a 4.13 ERA in his last four outings.