s. And second row enforcer Ukuma Taai could be the man to get stuck into the Leeds

ST. LOUIS -- Orlando Arcia is finding his balance.Domingo Santana and Arcia hit back-to-back homers as the Milwaukee Brewers continued their recent road dominance routing the St. Louis Cardinals 12-5 on Thursday night.Hernan Perez had four hits and three RBI for the Brewers, who won their season-high fifth straight on the road and have won seven of their last eight games.Youre always happy to be in a good streak, Arcia said through an interpreter. We try to keep it loose, we try to play games before the game just trying to keep everybody loose and just going out there and having fun.The Cardinals fell to 30-38 at home and dropped a half game behind the idle New York Mets for the second wild card spot.Santana and Arcia connected on consecutive pitches in the second inning. It was the seventh time Milwaukee hit back-to-back homers this season and the second time in four days as Chris Carter and Santana did it on Sunday at Pittsburgh.I just went out there looking for a pitch I could hit hard, looking for my pitch, Arcia said. I was able to get one and hit it hard and get it out.Perezs four hits matched a career high he set Tuesday against Chicago.Hes swinging the bat well, Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. He just is getting in spots and tonight we had some runners on base when he was up. Hes making a lot of hard contact, solid contact.Brewers catcher Martin Maldonado has been pleasantly surprised by Perezs production in the clean-up spot.Hes earned his playing time this year and is putting up his numbers, Maldonado said. He doesnt try to do too much. Hes older and hes learning. Hes doing a good job.Arcia, who told reporters a couple of weeks ago that his balance was off in the batters box, had three hits and raised his average to .367 over his last 15 games.Just a lot of hard work, Arcia said. Just try to keep my same approach, up the middle and the other way and its starting to click.The bottom three hitters in the Brewers lineup reached eight times and scored six runs.Maldonados two-run home run in the sixth was his first since Aug. 13.Brewers right-hander Junior Guerra (8-3) needed 74 pitches to get through five innings in his second start back from the disabled list. It was his first career win against St. Louis in three tries.Jaime Garcia (10-12) struggled for the fourth time in his last five starts, losing a career-high fourth straight decision. He gave up five earned runs in 3 2/3 innings -- his third shortest outing of the season.As he came out in the first I thought it was going to be one of those days where we were going to see some really good balls on the ground, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. It seemed like some elevated balls got him. He had a good sinker. It just ended up being a rough one.Garcia entered the game with an 11-5 career record against the Brewers.Well there are some guys who hadnt faced him very often, Counsell said. He left some balls up and thats how youve got to get him. Youve got to get him with some balls up in the strike zone and we did a good job of it.Cardinals reliever Mike Mayers retired just three of the nine batters he faced, giving up six runs. He has given up 15 runs in 3 1/3 innings and has a 40.50 ERA.Kolten Wongs two-run home run in the fourth was the Cardinal second basemans third in his last six games. Jose Martinezs first major league hit in the eighth scored Jedd Gyorko.TRAINING ROOMCardinals: LHP Michael Wacha (right shoulder inflammation) and RHP Trevor Rosenthal (right shoulder inflammation) both had successful bullpen sessions Wednesday. . OF Matt Holliday (right thumb fracture) grabbed a bat for the first time Thursday. . IF Aledmys Diaz (right thumb fracture) went 0-for-4 in a rehab start at Double-A Springfield on Wednesday.UP NEXTBrewers: RHP Jimmy Nelson (7-13, 4.36 ERA) has made 12 quality starts this season. He is 0-6 with a 7.57 ERA in eight career games against St. Louis.Cardinals: RHP Carlos Martinez (13-7, 3.07 ERA) leads all National League pitchers with 30 double plays induced. He is 2-0 with a 0.95 ERA in three starts this season against Milwaukee. Cheap Patriots Jerseys . The Dutchmans tenure got off to a poor start when referee Guido Winkmann awarded a penalty within two minutes for Niklas Starks clumsy challenge on Alexandru Maxim. Patriots Jerseys 2020 .com) - Yankee Stadium is the home of the Bronx Bombers, but on Sunday afternoon it will open its gates to host the latest addition of the Hudson River Rivalry. https://www.patriotsjerseysale.com/ . Three came down to the fourth quarter while quarterbacks continued to shine in all four games; so important to the overall quality of the game. Patriots Jerseys 2019 . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Patriots Jerseys China . - Chris Tierney snapped a tie with a power-play goal late in the third period as the London Knights rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Erie Otters 5-3 in Ontario Hockey League action on Wednesday.Its 11th v 12th in Super League this week - but you wouldnt believe that these two teams were top four finishers last season. Leeds, of course, won the league, but Huddersfield also finished third in the regular season. Injuries have decimated both sides this season, ensuring neither club have won a game yet - so who will overcome the early season problems to notch that first win? We look at three crucial head-to-heads:Leroy Cudjoe v Kallum Watkins Watch Leroy Cudjoe in action for Huddersfield Giants in the Super League Watch out for the two number 3s this week. Two of Englands finest centres, Kallum Watkins and Leroy Cudjoe are very similar in some respects - both coming through their respective clubs academies before developing into key parts of the attack. Teams often single out Watkins as Leeds most dangerous player and its easy to see why. Watkins is just as comfortable putting his winger through a gap with a deft offload as he is making a searing outside break. In 2015, his 30 clean breaks were the second highest recorded in the league, while his 47 offloads was the second best in a Rhinos shirt. Teams have marshalled him well so far in 2016, but there were signs against Catalans of what he can do, scoring twice in that defeat. Dont expect him to stay quiet for long. Give Watkins space at your own peril. On the Huddersfield side, Cudjoes been a regular part of the England squad in recent years, but hell have been disappointed to miss out on making an appearance in the Test series against New Zealand. The Giants strike centre laid on 16 assists last season and provided 31 offloads, the third most in the side. He doesnt score as many himself, just seven in 2015, but instead concentrates on creating opportunities for Jermaine McGillvary, one of the leagues best finishers. Its been a quiet start for Cudjoe along with his team, no tries and no assists yet for the centre, but hes central to Paul Andersons attacking plans. Watch out for the Cudjoe/McGillvary combination on Friday. Watch Kallum Watkins in action for Leeds Rhinos in the Super League Ryan Hall v Jermaine McGillvaryThey lined up together in an England jersey last season, but on Friday night Ryan Hall and Jermaine McGillvary will be locking horns on their respective wings. Expect fireworks from that match-up! Watch Ryan Hall in action for Leeds Rhinos in the Super League Leeds star studded backline contains Englands highest try scorer in Hall.dddddddddddd Hes got 26 tries in his countrys colours and the winger has proved time and time again he knows the way to the line. Top scorer last season with 19, hes also topped the Rhinos seasonal charts another five times since his debut in 2007. His power in attack is also a useful weapon for Brian McDermott, with 2856 metres made and an average gain of 7.56m in 2015 impressive for any outside back. Hes made yards in 2016 - 313 exactly, the third most in the Leeds side - but will want to see his tries for column going up - just two so far this season. But one of his most important scores came against Huddersfield to claim the League Leaders Shield last season, so dont bet against him going over on Friday. Watch Jermaine McGillvary in action for Huddersfield Giants in the Super League It will be difficult for Jermaine McGillvary to beat 2015. Super Leagues top scorer with 27, the flying winger also made his England debut in the third Test against New Zealand. And he impressed against the Kiwis too with strong kick returns. Not that McGillvarys kick returns are a mystery to Super League opposition; indeed he was the second highest metre maker in 2015 with 3888m. Hes started 2016 in similar fashion with 285 metres made, the second most in the Huddersfield side. But McGillvary will be aiming to improve on his one try so far, especially considering his strike rate last season. So if Leeds are to win this one, they need to shut down McGillvarys kick returns and starve him of opportunities to get over the whitewash.Brett Ferres v Ukuma TaaiTheres one person to keep a special eye on this Friday and thats the Leeds second row Brett Ferres. Off-field problems led to his transfer listing at Huddersfield and the Rhinos decided to bring him to Headingley. And you can be sure Ferres put a big ring round the fourth league game when the fixtures came out - the first clash against his old teammates. Rugby League tickets Get Magic Weekend, Super League and Challenge Cup tickets Ferres has made a solid start to his Rhinos career, despite the poor form of his new club. Known for his work rate, he tops Leeds tackle list with 113 and, more impressively, has only missed 15. Never afraid to get his hands dirty, Ferres has carried 52 times this season, the third best in the Rhinos ranks, while also making 328 metres, the second best in the side. Impressive stuff - and he can do plenty with the ball as well, 11 offloads the most for Leeds. Discipline might be a concern for Brian McDermott, as Ferres has conceded the most Rhinos penalties so far with four, but all the signs so far suggest the second rower is a very solid investment.As for Huddersfield, theyll be looking to get an early shot on Ferres. And second row enforcer Ukuma Taai could be the man to get stuck into the Leeds pack. He delivers consistently powerful performances for the Giants and his stats this season are no different. 97 tackles (third in the Huddersfield rankings), 241 metres (fourth in the Huddersfield rankings) and 7.53m average gain (also fourth in the Huddersfield rankings) show hes put his hand up for work despite his sides poor form. Thats some impressive go-forward for a second rower. He also knows where the try line is too, indeed Taai got over the whitewash in the first game of the season against St Helens, while he was Huddersfields joint-third top scorer last season with 11. He could be the ace in the pack for the Giants come Friday night.Watch Sky Sports News HQ at 11.30am every Wednesday for your Super League preview. Get a Sky Sports Pass Watch the Super League without a contract, from ￡6.99 with NOW TV. Also See: Rugby League on Sky Fixtures and results Follow @SkySportsRL Pundits ' ' '