(Sports Network) - Now just percentage points ahead of Boston for first place in the American League East Division, the Tampa Bay Rays try to close out their three-game interleague set against St. Louis at Busch Stadium this afternoon on a positive note.

On Saturday the Rays suffered just their second loss in the last 10 outings as they bowed to the Cardinals in 10 innings, 9-8.

Ryan Ludwick connected on two home runs, including the game-ending solo shot in the 10th to give the home team the victory. The win for the Cardinals snapped a two-game slide. The triumph drew the Cardinals to within two games of first place in the National League Central, trailing only the Chicago Cubs.

Aaron Miles finished 4-for-5 and scored twice for the Cardinals, while Ryan Franklin picked up the win by pitching two scoreless innings in relief of Adam Wainwright. The starter was tagged for 12 hits over 5 2/3 innings, yet allowed just four runs.

Dan Wheeler took the loss for the Rays, while starter Matt Garza suffered through 4 1/3 innings of work, during which he surrendered 10 hits and seven runs. Offensively, Jason Bartlett went 4-for-5 and scored twice, and Carlos Pena belted a three-run homer in the losing effort.

Taking the hill for the Rays this afternoon to close out the set is Edwin Jackson. The right-hander, who lost his only previous appearance versus St. Louis, held the Yankees scoreless over seven innings on Tuesday, yet still failed to figure into the decision.

The Rays have won three of the last four games in which Jackson has pitched, yet he has not logged a victory since the April 10 shutout over Seattle at home.

Slated to go for the Cardinals is Kyle Lohse, and eight-year veteran who spent his first five years in the American League with Minnesota. The California native began his tenure with St. Louis with three straight victories, but since then has watched his team drop five of his six appearances.

On Tuesday Lohse was tagged for four runs on five hits over seven innings versus Pittsburgh in what became an 8-4 setback for the Cards.

As for his experience against the Rays over the years, the right-hander is 5-2 with a 2.53 ERA in eight games.

The Tampa Bay pitching staff currently sports the fourth-best team ERA in the AL, coming in at 3.68. Just as impressive, the group is also third in the league in opponent batting average, permitting hitters to come in with a .243 mark.

On the other side, the Cardinals are one of the best hitting teams in the National League at the moment, placing third in the league with a collective .279 batting average.

The Cardinals are currently 85-77 all-time in interleague play, while the Rays are just 75-105 versus the National League.