Sep 16, 2007, 14:53 GMT
- St. Louis' Mark Mulder will try again for his first victory of 2007 when he starts the Cardinals' finale of a four-game set with the Chicago Cubs this afternoon at Busch Stadium.
Mulder made his season debut on September 5 against the Pirates and was tagged for six runs in four innings of work. Prior to that outing, he hadn't pitched since August of last year because of left rotator cuff surgery.
The left-hander then fell to 0-2 with a 12.38 earned run average this year when he was lit up for seven runs (five earned) on seven hits over four innings of a loss to the Reds on Tuesday.
Mulder, who won 16 games with St. Louis in 2005, is 2-3 with a 4.22 ERA in six career starts versus the Cubs.
Jason Marquis has had little success on the road this season and will try to reverse that trend today. Marquis sports an 8-3 mark at home this season, but is just 3-5 with a 4.37 ERA away from Wrigley Field.
However, Marquis spent the last three seasons playing for St. Louis, so perhaps his familiarity with Busch Stadium will help him today. Not so last time he faced them in St. Louis however, as he was tagged for six runs on five hits and four walks over five innings of an 11-1 loss on July 26. He is 3-1 in six career games (four starts) versus St. Louis with a 3.71 ERA.
The right-hander has received two straight no-decisions, including Tuesday in Houston when he gave up four runs (three earned) on eight hits over five innings of work, lifting his season ERA to 4.17.
The Cubs and Cardinals split a day-night doubleheader on Saturday, with the Cubs taking the first game 3-2 behind Alfonso Soriano's go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning.
Ted Lilly pitched six strong innings for the Cubs, allowing two runs on four hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Kerry Wood (1-1) picked up the win in the day game with one scoreless inning of relief.
Braden Looper took a tough no-decision, tossing seven innings of three-hit, one-run ball with five strikeouts and two walks. Ryan Franklin (4-4) took the loss for the Cardinals, giving up Soriano's homer. Jim Edmonds provided all the offense for the Cubs with a two-run double in the first.
That loss was St. Louis' ninth in a row, a losing streak it halted with a 4-3 victory in the nightcap. Yadier Molina drove in two runs to lead the Cardinals.
Joel Pineiro (5-3) gave up three runs on seven hits in seven innings and retired 12 straight after the third inning. Jason Isringhausen picked up his 29th save of the season. Brendan Ryan and Scott Spiezio each had two hits for the Cardinals.
Sean Marshall (7-8) started for Chicago and lasted just 2 2/3 frames, allowing four runs -- two earned -- on six hits.
Soriano launched a two-run homer for the Cubs, who had a four-game win streak snapped and lead Milwaukee by one game in the National League Central. The Brewers defeated the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.
The Cardinals are six games back of the Cubs for first place, but don't play the club again this season.
The Cubs have won 10 of 15 against the Cardinals this year, and are 31-19 against the club since the start of the 2005 season.
© 2007 The Sports Network
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