Cards going through their first true rough stretch

No one ever said it was going to be easy for the Cardinals this season.

The Cardinals, who were 22-12 and held a 2 1/2-game lead in the NL Central on May 6, lost for the eighth time in 10 games since then on Friday. Now they're 24-20 and three games out of first.

"We're in a tough time right now," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "We're having trouble combining the game. When we pitch good, we don't hit enough. When we swing the bat better, we struggle pitching. We've just got to keep battling and play our way through it. It happens. Just never give in. Turn it around tomorrow."

Tampa Bay right-hander Andy Sonnanstine worked eight impressive innings to get the 3-1 win Friday. Chris Duncan homered in the eighth for the Cardinals' lone run.

"You've got to give him credit," La Russa said of Sonnanstine. "I never saw the catcher move his glove. He hit the catcher's glove all night long. That's pitching."

The Cardinals have scored three runs or less 17 times this season, including six times in the last 10 games. That's leaving the pitching staff with no margin for error, a point with which Troy Glaus expressed concern earlier this week.

Braden Looper (5-3) allowed 10 hits in six innings Friday, although he limited the damage. Tampa Bay mustered just three runs against him. But unless the offense picks up the pace, the stressful innings are going to mount for the pitchers. That's not a good situation.

"It definitely makes it easier when you can jump out there and score a few runs," Looper said. "Those games are the ones you can really get comfortable and get in there."