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Aces face off as Mets wrap up series with Cardinals

Jul 27, 2008 - 2:18 PM St. Louis (58-48) at NY Mets (56-48) 1:10 pm EDT

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- New York Mets ace Johan Santana has yet to finish what he has started. That could change on Sunday, as Santana takes the hill looking to give the Mets bullpen a much-needed rest in the finale of a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals.

After a marathon game that went 14 innings, St. Louis is also hoping for a long outing from Kyle Lohse, who is looking to win his 13th straight decision in a premier pitching matchup.

Both teams enter with tired bullpens after Albert Pujols hit a go-ahead two-run homer off Aaron Heilman in the 14th to lift the Cardinals to a 10-8 victory Saturday. New York got a pair of home runs from Carlos Delgado and a game-tying home run from Fernando Tatis in the ninth, but it wasn't enough as the Mets lost for just the fourth time in their last 18 games.

One of those losses came in Santana's last start on Tuesday, which caused quite stir in the "Big Apple." A two-time Cy Young Award winner, Santana (8-7, 3.05 ERA) was pulled after eight innings with the Mets holding a 5-2 lead over the Philadelphia. The lefthander threw 105 pitches, but New York was without closer Billy Wagner and the four relievers gave up six runs in an 8-6 loss.

Manager Jerry Manuel drew heavy criticism for not allowing Santana to throw his first complete game of the season. With the bullpen worn out, Manuel will likely lean heavily on his ace this time.

St. Louis will need a big effort from Lohse (12-2, 3.35), who has not lost since May 8. Lohse allowed three runs and seven hits in eight innings of a 4-3 loss to Milwaukee on Tuesday.