(Sports Network) - The St. Louis Cardinals will try to string together back- to-back home victories for the first time this season when the defending world champions conclude a three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds today at Busch Stadium.

St. Louis had dropped seven of their first eight games at home prior to Wednesday's 5-2 triumph over the Reds. Albert Pujols put the Cardinals ahead to stay with a tie-breaking two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning, while Chris Duncan finished 2-for-3 with a run scored in the win.

Braden Looper turned in another strong start for the Cardinals, as the converted reliever allowed just one run and three hits over the first seven innings. Randy Flores wound up getting the victory in relief, with Jason Isringhausen recording the final out for his fifth save.

Reds starter Bronson Arroyo also gave up only one run in seven innings of work and did not factor in the decision. Kirk Saarloos (0-2) failed to record an out in the eighth and was charged with four runs (two earned) plus the loss.

Josh Hamilton hit a solo home run for Cincinnati in the loss, the Reds' third in four games.

Cincinnati looks to get back on track this afternoon behind Kyle Lohse, who has impressed in four starts thus far in 2007. The former Minnesota Twin brings an excellent 1.91 earned run average into today's tilt, despite having only one win to show for his efforts.

Lohse held Philadelphia to one unearned run on six hits over seven innings on Friday, but was stuck with a no decision in a 2-1 Reds' win. Five days earlier, the right-hander racked up a career-high 12 strikeouts in eight scoreless innings to defeat Chicago at Wrigley Field.

The 28-year-old has displayed outstanding control this season, having issued only three walks in 28 1 /3 innings pitched.

Lohse is 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA in two lifetime starts against St. Louis. In his only previous appearance at Busch Stadium, he allowed just one run over seven innings in a no decision last August.

The Cardinals, who are aiming for their first series win at home in 2007, will sent out Randy Keisler in the finale. The journeyman lefty has made two starts in place of the injured Chris Carpenter in the rotation, earning a no decision in both games.

Keisler last pitched at San Francisco on April 18 and surrendered four runs -- three earned -- on six hits and three walks in five innings.

This will be the first career appearance against Cincinnati for Keisler, who pitched in 24 games for the Reds in 2005.

Cincinnati went 9-6 against the Cardinals last season but is just 9-18 in St. Louis since the start of the 2004 campaign.