The St. Louis Cardinals haven't had any trouble flexing their muscles as of late. Carlos Beltran and Matt Holliday belted back-to-back home runs in the third inning and Allen Craig and David Freese followed suit in the seventh as visiting St. Louis slugged its way to a 9-6 triumph over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday.
Rafael Furcal collected three hits - including a homer to lead off the game for the Cardinals, who have scored 17 runs in their last two contests. St. Louis will vie for its third straight win on Tuesday when it faces Arizona, which has dropped five of its last six overall and eight of 10 at Chase Field this season.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, FSMW (St. Louis), FSAZ (Arizona)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Jake Westbrook (3-2, 2.12 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Ian Kennedy (3-1, 3.23 ERA)
After four brilliant starts this season, Westbrook put up a bit of a clunker in his last trip to the hill. The 34-year-old allowed four runs on nine hits in 6 1/3 innings in Thursday's 6-3 loss to Pittsburgh. Westbrook will look to rebound against Arizona, against which he has won both of his career decisions.
Kennedy suffered his first setback of the season on Thursday, although he deserved a far better fate. The former first-round pick yielded just two runs on four hits in seven innings, but dropped a 2-1 decision to Washington on Thursday. Kennedy has split two career meetings with St. Louis, but has a gaudy 12.00 ERA and 1.89 WHIP in the process.
WALK-OFFS
1. Arizona's Cody Ransom, who ignited a six-run sixth inning with a two-run homer, is riding a six-game hitting streak. He has hit safely in nine of the 10 games he's played. Ransom has not faced Westbrook in his career.
2. St. Louis' five homers on Monday were its most since July 2007, when it went deep five times against Philadelphia. A repeat is unlikely as Kennedy has yielded just two homers in six starts this season.
3. Arizona's Aaron Hill has experienced success against Westbrook, going 6-for-12. Conversely, Jason Kubel has struggled against the hurler with just three hits in 18 career at-bats.