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Ludwick tries to help Cardinals maintain home dominance of Dodgers

Aug 7, 2008 - 2:11 PM LA Dodgers (56-57) at St. Louis (64-52) 2:15 pm EDT

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers have experienced little success at Busch Stadium. Lately, Ryan Ludwick has had a lot to do with that.

Ludwick attempts to become the first Cardinal to homer in six straight games during the same season on Thursday when St. Louis tries to complete a sweep of the Dodgers.

After hitting a game-winning home run in a 6-4, 11-inning victory in Tuesday's series opener, Ludwick tied a team record Wednesday by becoming the fifth St. Louis player to homer in five consecutive contests in the Cardinals' 9-6 victory over Los Angeles.

Another homer would make Ludwick the first player in club history to hit a home run in six consecutive games in the same season. Mark McGwire is only player to homer in six straight games for St. Louis, but his blasts came over two seasons.

Rookie Clayton Kershaw (1-3, 4.02) will try to cool off Ludwick, who is batting .486 with six homers and 12 RBIs during a nine-game hitting streak, and halt the Dodgers' woes at Busch Stadium, where they have dropped 10 of their last 11 contests.

The lefthander, who recorded a no-decision in his first career start against St. Louis, also did not factor into the decision despite allowing four hits over six scoreless innings in Friday's 2-1 loss to the Diamondbacks.

He figures to be tested when he faces Kyle Lohse (13-3, 3.73), who will be seeking to match his career high in wins, set in 2003 with Minnesota. The righthander permitted three runs and five hits over 5 1/3 innings in Friday's 6-3 victory over Philadelphia.