Cards aim to finish off Padres

~ St. Louis goes for its third playoff sweep of San Diego.

ST. LOUIS -- Instead of trying to avoid a first-round playoff sweep, the St. Louis Cardinals are trying to complete one.

After finishing the regular season in a tailspin, the Cardinals took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series against the San Diego Padres. The series resumes today with the first postseason game at the new Busch Stadium.

"The last six weeks or two months, we had trouble winning two games in a row," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said Friday. "We've had two solid games. We've played the whole thing: pitching, defense and hitting, a lot of energy. It's been fun."

Jeff Suppan, who pitched two playoff clinchers for the Cardinals in 2004, starts today against Chris Young.

"To be in this situation is a great feeling for me," Suppan said. "I'm looking forward to it."

It isn't a great feeling for Bruce Bochy. Since he became Padres manager, San Diego is 0-8 against St. Louis in the playoffs, including sweeps in 1996 and last year.

"A lot of these guys don't know, but I know we haven't beaten them in a postseason game yet," Bochy said.

San Diego has been held to one run and 10 hits the first two games and gone 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Padres closer Trevor Hoffman hasn't even been on the mound. Last year, he pitched only one inning in a series his team never led.

"I'd like an opportunity to help out," he said. "I've been more of a cheerleader so far."

St. Louis hadn't won consecutive road games since July 25 and 26 before taking the first two games at San Diego. The Cardinals have been bolstered by the return of center fielder Jim Edmonds, who made only four starts in the final six week following a concussion, and shortstop David Eckstein, who missed 24 games with a pulled side muscle.

"He stabilizes the outfield and he's very important player," La Russa said of Edmonds. "He's been one of our core guys for a long time, so to have him playing, and playing well, means a lot."

San Diego, in the postseason in consecutive years for the first time, took two of three at St. Louis late in the regular season. Young has not lost in 24 road starts dating to June 25 last year at Houston. He was 6-0 with a NL-best 2.41 ERA on the road this year.

He was bothered by back tightness after his regular-season start at St. Louis on Sept. 27, when he allowed one run and three hits in seven innings. He said the back was fine now and pointed out he threw 95 pitches in that game.

"I don't think by any means I came out early," Young said. "I turned the game over in the eighth inning to the best bullpen in the league."

Suppan was pushed behind Game 2 winner Jeff Weaver in the Cardinals postseason rotation because Weaver has been at his best on the road and Suppan was 7-2 with a 3.18 ERA at home -- on the road, Suppan went 5-5 with a 5.36 ERA.

Suppan had a 2.39 ERA after the All-Star break, although he allowed four earned runs in 3 2/3 innings on Sept. 25 against them and got a no-decision in a St. Louis loss.

"We know he's been throwing the ball well," Bochy said. "When you have a guy out there with experience and that can throw a lot of pitches, you battle, you compete."

Chris Carpenter, who allowed one run over 6 1/3 innings in winning Tuesday's opener, would start Game 4 on regular rest Sunday if San Diego manages to win Game 3. The Padres would go with either Game 1 starter Jake Peavy or Woody Williams.