Cards resume set in Cincinnati

Sep 12, 2007, 15:07 GMT

- After a really good run, the St. Louis Cardinals are losing ground in the National League Central and will try to get back on track tonight in the middle portion of their three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.

Adam Dunn hit two home runs, including a grand slam in the third inning, in the Reds' 7-2 victory over the Cardinals on Tuesday that dropped St. Louis four games back of first-place Milwaukee.

Reds starter Matt Belisle (8-8) pitched seven strong innings to pick up the win, yielding two runs on six hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Cincinnati halted a four-game losing streak to St. Louis

David Eckstein and Ryan Ludwick each homered for the slumping Cardinals, who have lost five straight. Mark Mulder (0-2), in his just his second start of the season, was tagged for seven hits and seven runs -- five earned -- over four innings of work. The left-hander underwent left rotator cuff surgery last September.

St. Louis announced before the game that third baseman Scott Rolen had surgery on Tuesday to repair his injured left shoulder. He will begin a rehabilitation program and it is anticipated that he will make a complete recovery in time for spring training in 2008.

Anthony Reyes will try to get on track for the Cardinals tonight. Reyes is a disappointing 2-13 on the season with a 5.61 earned run average, including 0-2 over his last four appearances that entails three starts and a relief outing.

Reyes lost consecutive starts to the Cubs and Marlins and was then routed for four runs and four hits over just an inning of work in a no-decision on August 31 against the Reds. He last appeared out of the bullpen on Thursday, yielding a run on a pair of hits over two innings.

The right-hander is 1-1 with a 7.84 ERA in four games (three starts) lifetime against the Reds.

The Reds send Bronson Arroyo to the hill tonight, and the right-hander is 8-14 with a 4.40 ERA on the year. He is also 3-1 over his last five starts and won his last outing on Friday against Milwaukee after giving up just three runs and five hits over 7 2/3 innings of work.

Arroyo has faced the Cardinals 13 times (11 starts) in his career and is 2-5 against them with a 4.63 ERA.

The Cardinals are still a healthy 9-4 against the Reds this year, winning two of three in Cincinnati from June 29-July 1.

© 2007 The Sports Network