(Sports Network) - It's been more than six months since the Colorado Rockies lost back-to-back regular-season games. The 2007 National League champions will try to keep that streak intact in this afternoon's rubber match of a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals from Busch Stadium.

The Cardinals evened this season-opening set with Wednesday's 8-3 victory, with Ryan Ludwick leading a St. Louis' 11-hit attack with a 3-for-5, three-RBI performance at the plate.

Rick Ankiel also collected three hits for the Cardinals, including his first home run of the season. Starting pitcher Todd Wellemeyer held the potent Colorado offense to one run and four hits over the first five innings to earn the win.

The Rockies pulled within 4-3 on Brad Hawpe's RBI double in the top of the eighth inning, but St. Louis responded with four runs in its half of the frame to put the game out of reach. Ludwick delivered a two-run double during the outburst and Albert Pujols had an RBI single to cap the scoring for the Cards.

Hawpe also had a solo home run on the evening and finished 2-for-4 for Colorado, which won 14 of its final 15 outings last season -- including a one- game playoff over San Diego -- to reach the 2007 playoffs. The Rockies' last non-postseason losing streak was a three-game slide from September 13-15.

Aaron Cook took the loss on Wednesday after giving up four runs on six hits in six innings of work.

Colorado will attempt to rebound this afternoon behind promising youngster Ubaldo Jimenez. The 24-year-old played a key role in last year's late-season surge by going 4-4 with a 4.28 earned run average in 15 starts after being called up from the minors in mid-July. Jimenez then backed up his good second half by recording a 2.25 ERA in three postseason starts.

The native Dominican will be facing the Cardinals for the first time in his career.

St. Louis counters with swingman Brad Thompson, who earned himself a spot in the team's rotation with a solid spring and injuries to Chris Carpenter and Joel Pineiro. The right-hander has worked primarily out of the bullpen during his three major-league seasons, but did start 17 games for the Cardinals a year ago.

In 44 overall appearances totaling 129 1/3 innings last season, Thompson compiled an 8-6 record with a 4.73 ERA, although opponents hit .301 against him for the year.

Thompson did pitch very well in a pair of 2007 starts against Colorado, recording a win and a no decision while surrendering just three runs over a combined 12 1/3 innings. For his career, the 26-year-old is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in six games versus the Rockies.

St. Louis is 12-6 against Colorado since the start of the 2006 season and the Rockies have lost eight of 11 games in Busch Stadium over that span.