Davey welcomes chance to best Cardinals

St. LOUIS -- After losing to the Cardinals in the 2012 National League Division Series and getting swept by them in a three-game series in April, manager Davey Johnson was looking forward to playing the Cardinals at Busch Stadium this week in a three-game series.

Johnson acknowledged that he has a chip on his shoulder after his club's recent results against the Cardinals.

"They knocked us out of [the NLDS] and they also swept us at home," Johnson said. "They think they are better than we are. It's time that we stand up prove we can beat them. These are meaningful games -- for them and us. I expect it to be a good crowd, which I like."