(Sports Network) - Journeyman southpaw Adam Pettyjohn makes his first major- league start in seven years today when the Cincinnati Reds close out a three- game weekend series and their 2008 schedule against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

A 31-year-old native of Phoenix, Pettyjohn last started in the big leagues in 2001 with the Detroit Tigers, for whom he appeared in 16 games and started nine times while posting a 1-6 record and a 5.82 earned run average.

He's come from the bullpen twice for the Reds this season, tossing a scoreless inning at Arizona on Sept. 14 and allowing two hits and a run in an inning against Milwaukee seven days later.

Additionally, Pettyjohn becomes the first left-hander to start a game for the Reds this season. He's getting the call in place of righty Edinson Volquez, who was scratched with right knee tendinitis.

For the Cardinals, ex-Red Kyle Lohse closes out his best major-league season.

The 29-year-old Californian, who was with the Reds for the end of 2006 and the first part of 2007, signed with the Cardinals as a free agent in the offseason and has proceeded to lead the team with 15 victories in 33 starts.

He endured a stretch of seven straight starts without a win between Aug. 7 and Sept. 9, but has since scored consecutive defeats of the Reds and Arizona while allowing 13 hits and five earned runs in 12 2/3 innings.

At home in 2008, Lohse is 8-2 in 18 starts with a 3.32 ERA.

He's 1-1 in three career starts against the Reds.

On Saturday, Todd Wellemeyer had a strong outing and Troy Glaus hit a two-run home run as the Cardinals thumped the Reds, 8-5.

Wellemeyer (13-9) yielded three runs on seven hits and one walk while fanning three over 6 1/3 innings to halt a slide of three straight losses. Albert Pujols and Felipe Lopez also hit home runs while Adam Kennedy doubled and scored twice for St. Louis, which carries a five-game winning streak into the final contest of the season.

Aaron Harang (6-17) was touched for six runs -- four earned -- on nine hits and one walk in his five-inning start. The right-hander struck out a pair of batters in taking the loss to close the book on a dismal campaign.

Jerry Hairston Jr. had two hits and three RBI, including a two-run homer while Corey Patterson had a pair of hits and scored three runs. Paul Bako was 2- for-3 and knocked in a run for Cincinnati, which has lost four straight.

St. Louis has won nine of the 14 previous matchups between these NL Central foes this season. The Cardinals took two of three tests from Cincy in the Reds' lone visit to Busch Stadium this year, which took place from April 28-30.