St. Louis @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 18, 2013 ) St. Louis 4, Philadelphia 3

The Philadelphia Phillies attempt to uncork their struggling offense when they host the St. Louis Cardinals in Friday’s second contest of a four-game series. Philadelphia has scored three or fewer runs in seven consecutive games and has lost four straight contests after falling 4-3 in Thursday’s opener. The Phillies haven’t drawn a single walk during their losing skid and are just the fourth National League team since 1935 to go four consecutive contests without one.

St. Louis has won six of its last eight games. Outfielder Carlos Beltran hit the tiebreaking homer in the eighth in the opener and catcher Yadier Molina went 3-for-4 with a two-run double. Molina is 9-for-23 over the last six games. Philadelphia had 13 hits on Thursday, its second-best output of the season. First baseman Ryan Howard went 3-for-4 but has just one homer in 62 at-bats. Roy Halladay looks to put together his second straight strong outing.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Midwest (St. Louis), Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals LH Jaime Garcia (1-0, 1.86 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Roy Halladay (1-2, 7.63)

Garcia pitched seven shutout innings against Milwaukee in his last start, but wasn’t involved in the decision. He has given up just four runs over his first three outings. Garcia is 2-2 with a 2.00 ERA in seven career appearances (five starts) against the Phillies. He lost his lone 2012 start against Philadelphia when he gave up four runs in six innings.

Halladay beat the Miami Marlins in his last outing when he gave up one run and five hits over eight innings. He only struck out two and has fanned just five over his last two starts. Halladay is 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA in six career starts against the Cardinals. He went 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two starts against St. Louis last season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Beltran is batting .326 with three homers in 46 career at-bats against Halladay.

2. Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins is just 1-for-14 against Garcia.

3. Cardinals RHP Edward Mujica got the final four outs on Thursday for his fifth career save.

PREDICTION: Phillies 4, Cardinals 2