(My Sportsbook) - The Chicago Cubs hope to get back on the winning track this afternoon when they continue their four-game set against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

The Cubs dropped the series opener on Friday, 7-4. Alex Gonzalez stroked two hits and scored twice for Chicago, which saw its five-game winning streak halted. Troy O'Leary, Moises Alou and Corey Patterson all posted two hits and an RBI in defeat.

Matt Clement (2-5) suffered the loss. He allowed seven runs -- six earned -- on eight hits in six frames to go along with six strikeouts and a walk.

Young righthander Mark Prior will take the ball today for the Cubs and attempt to improve on his strong start to the season. The 22-year-old hurler is off to a 5-1 start and is pitching to a 2.13 ERA.

In his last outing, Prior allowed four runs on seven hits over six innings in an 11-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. He also struck out 11 and walked four. Prior has struck out at least seven in all but two of his starts this year, fanning six in both of those games.

He lost to the Cardinals in his only appearance against the team last year, despite allowing just two runs on seven hits over five innings.

These squads split a pair of meetings at Wrigley Field last weekend with the finale of the set being rained out.