The Cardinals are finally back in familiar territroy: first place.
The Cardinals were 18-9 out of the gates and seemed to have everything going right in April and early May. Then Brad Penny got hurt, Kyle Lohse got hurt, and the Cardinals were a mediocre, below average 27-31 in the next 58 games.
After a tough sweep at the hands of the Rockies, the Redbirds took two of three from the 'Stros and proceeded to sweep the Dodgers right out of Los Angeles in four games after the All-Star Break.
With the Reds 1-0 loss to the Rockies, the Cardinals claimed first place by a half game entering another 4-game set against the scuffling Phillies.
The Phillies are coming into St. Louis after getting dismantled by the Cubs. Phillies ace Roy Halladay was roughed up at Wrigley and the Cubs continued to pour it on against the Phil's bullpen.
The Cardinals would love to continue their streak against the fightin' Phillies.
Jeff Suppan kept the streak alive with his best start on the Cardinals going 6 innings and only allowing one run.
The Cardinals played comeback kids against the Dodgers entering the bottom of the eighth down 4-0 but scoring 3 runs in the eighth and 2 more in the ninth off All-Star closer Jonathan Broxton to win.
The unlikely hero? Allen Craig. Craig was playing 1st base while La Russa gave Pujols a day off. La Russa also sat Molina and Rasmus. Molina came up with the single in the 9th inning to start the rally. Craig drove in the tying run in the 9th along with the Cards first two runs in the 8th. Holliday drove in the winning run with a deep single over Andre Ethier's head in right field.
Blake Hawksworth will look to keep it going from the mound. Hawksworth's last four starts have been fairly solid for a back of the rotation starter. He has gone at least 5 innings in his last four starts, giving up no more than three earned runs in any of those starts.
The Phillies will send Kyle Kendrick to the mound, who has been outstanding against the Cardinals in his career: 4-0, 1.67 ERA against the Cardinals.
Cardinals will look to move their winning streak to 6 games, which would be their longest of the season so far.
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