ST. LOUIS (Ticker) - The Pittsburgh Pirates will try to build off an impressive extra-inning victory when they square off Wednesday against the struggling St. Louis Cardinals in the middle contest of a three-game series.

Ronny Paulino delivered an RBI single in the 10th inning and Adam LaRoche added a three-run double later in the frame to lift the Pirates to an 8-4 victory over the Cardinals in Tuesday's series opener.

St. Louis has lost three straight games and six of its previous seven contests. But while the Cardinals have struggled recently, Albert Pujols has remained red-hot in the batters box.

Pujols, who tied Tuesday's game in the seventh with a solo home run, is currently on a 12-game hitting streak. The 2005 National League MVP, Pujols is batting .348 with eight blasts and a team-leading 26 RBI this season.

Hoping to avoid a fourth straight loss, St. Louis will send righthander Todd Wellemeyer (3-1, 3.56 ERA) to the mound. Wellemeyer gave up two unearned runs and six hits over six innings during Friday's 4-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.

He will be opposed by Paul Maholm (2-3, 4.79), who did not receive a decision in his last outing - a 5-4 triumph over the San Francisco Giants on Thursday. Maholm pitched six frames, allowing four runs and six hits.

May 14, 2008