Lee tries to string together another quality start vs. Cards

Lefty Cliff Lee will aim for a fourth straight quality start on Saturday night when his Philadelphia Phillies meet the St. Louis Cardinals in the third of four weekend games at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies got a mound gem while evening the series on Friday night with an 8-2 win.

Starter Roy Halladay (2-2) surrendered a pair of solo home runs and walked two while striking out six over seven strong innings before heavy rain came down and forced the game to be called in the middle of the frame.

"He was able to locate the ball good on both sides of the plate," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He had a real good outing."

Humberto Quintero went 2-for-3 with two RBI, while Chase Utley, John Mayberry and Ben Revere added an RBI apiece for the Phillies, who had lost a season- high four straight games.

Jaime Garcia (1-1) gave up eight runs -- four earned -- on nine hits and two walks over three frames to absorb the loss.

"They put some good swings on pitches that I was making," Garcia admitted. "There's no excuses, I just didn't get the job done tonight."

Lee, a 17-game winner in 2011, skidded to just six wins in 30 starts last season while his earned run average ticked up from 2.40 to 3.16.

He began 2013 with an eight-inning gem, allowing two hits in a 2-0 win at Atlanta, then followed with an 8-3 defeat of the New York Mets and seven innings of two-run ball while getting a no-decision at Cincinnati.

The 34-year-old has allowed 41 hits and struck out 31 batters in 44 1/3 lifetime innings against the Cardinals while winning three of five decisions in six starts.

He's 17-11 in 38 career starts at Citizens Bank Park.

For the Cardinals, 6-foot-5 righty Lance Lynn aims for a third win in as many starts.

The Indiana native, who attended the University of Mississippi, lasted just four innings in a no-decision against Arizona on April 3, but has won two straight since against Cincinnati and Pittsburgh while allowing five runs on 11 hits in 11 innings.

He walked one and struck out a season-high 10 against the Reds in a 5-1 win.

He got a no-decision in one career start against the Phillies.

The Phillies won the 2012 season series, five games to two. St. Louis won six of nine games between the teams in 2011.