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(Sports Network) - Mark Mulder will make his first start in more than a year this evening, when he takes the mound for the St. Louis Cardinals in the second test of a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

Mulder missed most of the previous two seasons with a shoulder injury and made the first relief appearance of his career and 2008 debut on June 30 versus the New York Mets. He hurled one inning of scoreless relief in a 7-1 victory.

The lefty then faced the Mets a few days later on July 2 in an 8-7 victory, as he recorded a blown save for allowing a pair of runs on two hits in just one- third of an inning. In three career starts against the Phillies, Mulder is 0-1 with a 5.21 earned run average.

Mulder hasn't started a game since September 16 of last season versus the Chicago Cubs. In just three innings of that 4-2 loss, Mulder yielded four runs and seven hits.

St. Louis has won two of its last three games and posted a 2-0 victory in Tuesday's series opener in South Philly. Joel Pineiro and three St. Louis relievers combined on a six-hit shutout, while Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick each homered to keep the Cardinals 3 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central division.

Pineiro tossed 6 1/3 shutout innings, allowing just five hits and three walks while striking out three. The right-hander snapped a nine-start winless streak dating back to an April 29 win over the Reds. Ryan Franklin tossed a scoreless ninth for his 12th save of the season.

St. Louis is 1-0 on a six-game road trip and 25-19 away from Busch Stadium this season.

The Phillies continued their fall from grace by suffering last night's loss, and have dropped four straight and 13 of the last 19 games. Starter Cole Hamels was the hard-luck loser, allowing both runs on just three hits in seven innings, striking out eight without walking a batter.

Pat Burrell went 2-for-3 with a double for the Phillies, who are just 1 1/2 games ahead of both Florida and New York in the NL East standings. Philadelphia is 1-4 on a 10-game homestand and 23-22 as the host this season.

J.A. Happ will make his third career start this evening. The Triple-A prospect made his 2008 debut on July 4 versus the New York Mets, recording a no- decision after yielding a pair of runs and three hits in 4 2/3 frames of a 3-2 victory.

The left-hander was called up from the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs to replace Opening Day starter Brett Myers, who was demoted to the Allentown farm club after struggling all season.

Happ, who made one start in 2007, has never faced the Cardinals.

St. Louis won two of three games versus the Phillies at Busch Stadium from June 13-15 this season. Philadelphia went 6-3 in the 2007 season series.