(Sports Network) - The St. Louis Cardinals take aim at their fourth straight win this afternoon when they continue their four-game series with the San Diego Padres at Busch Stadium.

St. Louis scored four times in the eighth inning on Friday to pull out an 11-7 win. Rick Ankiel was 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI, while Albert Pujols went 3-for-4 with two runs scored as five Cardinals had multi-hit games. That included Ryan Ludwick, who also homered as part of the 17-hit attack.

Since June 19, St. Louis has belted a major league-best 39 homers.

Greg Maddux, who allowed eight hits and six runs over four innings, has lost his last five decisions and is winless in 13 starts going back to May 16. The 13 straight starts without a win for the four-time Cy Young Award winner ties a career high, also accomplished during the 1990 season.

Kyle McClellan (2-4) walked one and struck out one in a scoreless inning of relief as St. Louis won for the fourth time in its last five tries.

Braden Looper allowed six runs on eight hits while striking out two over three-plus innings for the Cardinals. After his rocky start, five St. Louis relievers combined to hold the Padres to one run on four hits and two walks while striking out eight in the final six innings.

Heath Bell (6-4) was rocked for four runs on four hits and two walks in just one inning of relief while the rest of the San Diego bullpen allowed just one run on five hits and three walks.

Jody Gerut belted a two-run homer and Khalil Greene added a solo shot for the Padres, who have lost four in a row and seven of their last nine.

Heading to the hill for the Cardinals today will be right-hander Todd Wellemeyer, who is 7-4 with a 4.04 ERA. Wellemeyer's winless streak reached five starts last Saturday against Pittsburgh, as he allowed four runs and four hits in 6 1/3 innings, but did not factor in the decision of his team's 12-11 loss.

Wellemeyer defeated the Padres earlier in the year and is 1-0 lifetime against them with a 2.57 ERA in two games (one start).

San Diego will pin its hopes on lefty Randy Wolf, who has lost five of his last six starts. Wolf was tagged with the loss on SUnday against the Atlanta Braves, as he surrendered six runs and six hits in five innings, dropping him to 6-9 on the season, while raising his ERA to 4.66.

Wolf has faced the Cardinals seven times and is 3-3 with a 3.66 ERA in those outings.

The Cardinals have won in six of their last seven encounters with the Padres, including four of the five games played between the teams this season. San Diego has also suffered losses in six of its seven most recent tests in Busch Stadium.