Redbird Randoms 7/12/08 Wellemeyer, Ankiel

On deck: The Cards will take on the Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh in the second game of a three-game series tonight at 6:05 p.m. CDT.

Probables: STL-Todd Wellemeyer RHP (7-4, 3.94) vs. PIT-Phil Dumatrait LHP (3-4, 5.26)

Redbird's Perch: The Cards moved up into the second place slot in the NL Central, 4.5 games behind the first place Cubs, who beat the Giants yesterday, 3-1. The Brewers lost to the Reds, 6-5, slipping into third place, 5.0 games behind the Cubs and only a 1/2 game behind the Cards.

Whatcha done for me lately? Over the last 30 days, these are the Cardinals who are leading in:

ABs: Rick Ankiel -- 108

Runs: Rick Ankiel -- 20

Hits: Rick Ankiel -- 31

Doubles: Adam Kennedy -- 8

Triples: Rick Ankiel, Skip Schumaker, Cesar Izturis, Jason LaRue -- 1-each

Home Runs: Rick Ankiel -- 10

RBIs: Rick Ankiel -- 20

BBs: Rick Ankiel, Chris Duncan -- 11

Ks: Rick Ankiel -- 24

On-Base Percentage: Albert Pujols -- .446

Slugging Percentage: Rick Ankiel -- .630

Batting Average: Albert Pujos -- .364