St. 

--1B Albert Pujols went hitless in the recent Philadelphia series and, in fact, hasn't had a hit since he had a two-run double in the first inning at Atlanta on July 31. 

MEDICAL WATCH: OF Rick Ankiel (abdominal strain) sat out the July 27-28 games. 

Right-hander Chris Carpenter will make his first appearance at Busch Stadium since the first game of the 2007 season when he opposes the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers were hoping Manny Ramirez would provide some offensive punch when they acquired him at the trade deadline. 

Right-hander Russ Springer, 39, had been virtually untouchable for the last three months, giving up only two earned runs in 40 appearances, covering 30 2/3 innings since May 3. 

--LHP Jaime Garcia, who allowed a single to Philadelphia 1B Ryan Howard as one of the two hitters he faced in the eighth inning, absorbed his first big-league loss. 

MEDICAL WATCH: OF Rick Ankiel (abdominal strain) sat out the July 27-28 games. 

Brad Lidge looked nothing like an untouchable closer. 

Shane Victorino's three-run home run capped a four-run eighth inning against a vulnerable St. 

Shane Victorino's three-run home run capped a four-run eighth inning against a vulnerable St. 

Rick Ankiel missed his eighth straight start with an abdominal strain Sunday night, and wasn't sure when he'd be ready to return to the Cardinals lineup. 

Dayn Perry freely admits the wild card has improved baseball. 

Ryan Howard grew up in St. 

Joe Blanton won his first game since joining the Philadelphia Phillies in a mid-July trade, riding home runs from Ryan Howard and Greg Dobbs to a 2-1 victory over the St.