The Skinny: Ryan Ludwick jacked a 3-run home run off of Randy Johnson in the bottom of the first inning, capping a 4-run frame, and propelling the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Albert Pujols had started the scoring with an rbi single that scored Cesar Izturis. After Troy Glaus lined out to left, Ludwick went deep to dig a huge hole that the Diamondbacks couldn’t climb out of.

The game featured a number of missed opportunities for the D-Backs, including a bases-loaded one out situation in the top of the first. But Justin Upton struck out, and Chris Young grounded out to end the threat.

Repercussions: The Diamondbacks, with the loss, fell 3 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. The Dodgers crushed San Diego 10-1 in the first of a 3-game series on Tuesday night.

Will he ever get to 300?: Randy Johnson took the loss to even his record to 10-10 on the season. It was Johnson’s 7th attempt to notch career win #295. He’ll have one more crack at it in Sunday’s season finale against the Colorado Rockies. Theoretically, it could be the Big Unit’s last appearance as a Diamondback and/or major leaguer.

Let the second-guessing begin: In the biggest game of the season, how do you not play the player who leads your team in home runs and rbis? Mark Reynolds, who admittedly has struggled mightily as of late, both offensively and defensively, was not in the lineup and was replaced by light-hitting utility man Augie Ojeda. Reynolds is one of the few players on this roster with the power to change a game with one swing of the bat. Reynolds is also threatening to become the first player in big league history to strike out 200 times in a season. He had 198 going into Tuesday’s game. If that was the reason he wasn’t in the lineup, that’s not acceptable…Jon Rauch was called upon in the 7th inning to keep the Cardinals’ lead at 5-3. He gave up 4 hits and two runs in one inning of work, and saw the lead balloon to 7-3. Rauch saw his Diamondbacks’ ERA rise to 6.46.

MLB.com : Recap | Boxscore

Here’s what others are saying about the Diamondbacks’ loss to the Cardinals…

Cardinals deal D-Backs blow [AZCentral]

D-Backs’ hopes take a hit in loss to Cardinals [East Valley Trib]

Cards win, but chances end [STL Today.com]

The Diamondbacks pretty much find themselves in a position to win out to have any chance to make the 2008 postseason. That quest begins Wednesday as rookie Max Scherzer goes to the mound for Arizona. He’ll be looking for his first big league win, and he’ll be faced by St. Louis’ Adam Wainwright. First pitch is at 5:15 Arizona time.

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