Game Preview: Game 144 vs. St. Louis Cardinals

Our boys came through yet again last night as they defeated St. Louis in game 2 to clinch the series win. Today they will go for the jugular as they attempt a sweep over the Cardinals to pull us within six games of .500.

Clayton Richard will take the hill and try to get the win in his first start since becoming a father last week. He last pitched in Los Angeles last Wednesday, but gave up three runs and ten hits and only lasted 4 2/3 innings before exiting the game and leaving to meet his wife in San Diego to welcome their new son into the world. Richard will be looking to have a better outing today at Petco Park, where he has prospered lately. He has won his last four starts at home and has kept opponents to a total of just one run over the last three. He made one start against the Cardinals earlier this year, allowing just two earned runs in 7 1/3 innings, but didn't factor into the decision. He is 2-0 with a 3.13 ERA all-time against them

St. Louis will counter with Kyle Lohse, who is on an eight-game winning streak over his last 15 starts. Most recently, he pitched against the Brewers and gave up two runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings, but got a no-decision as the Cards went on to lose in extra innings. That game marked the sixth time in his last seven starts that Lohse surrendered two runs or less.

A sweep today would be the first by our Padres over the Cardinals since August of 19991995. With the Cardinals clinging to just a one-game lead over the Dodgers in the Wild Card race and on the verge of playing four games in Los Angeles following the conclusion of this series, a win for our boys today would make things infinitely more interesting.