Notes: La Russa proves master juggler

HOUSTON -- One of the more amazing aspects of the Cardinals' run to the best record in baseball is the fact that they have accomplished their success despite losing a number of significant players for extended periods.
Injuries have forced manager Tony La Russa to find replacements for third baseman Scott Rolen, out for the year after playing just 56 games, outfielder Reggie Sanders, who has missed 48 games due to a fractured fibula and right-handed reliever Mike Lincoln, who is out for the year after elbow surgery.
Catcher Yadier Molina has played only 90 of the team's 136 games. Injuries have limited right fielder Larry Walker to 84 games. Both have spent time on the side due to injuries.
"Probably we've had years where we had as many games lost [as this season]," La Russa said. "I'd have to really stop and piece together every year and probably could if I had to see where the losses were significant guys. Scott Rolen is significant; Larry Walker is signifcant. Reggie Sanders is significant. Yadier's significant. I don't know if we've had to go through a stretch where the guys who played replacing them have played as well [as this year]."
The Cardinals have stayed on top with great pitching and the performance of the regulars who have stayed in the lineup, but the contributions of the players who have helped fill in for the injured starters have been substantial.
Hector Luna, John Rodriguez, So Taguchi and Abraham Nunez are all hitting .291 or higher entering Sunday's game. Veteran John Mabry and rookies Scott Seabol and Mike Mahoney have also contributed.
La Russa could recall only one other time when a team he was managing lost so many key starters for an extended period, only to have their replacements step up and fill in better than anyone could have expected.
That was 13 years ago when La Russa managed the Oakland A's to the American League West Division title, despite the fact that injuries limited Oakland's starting outfield of Jose Canseco, Rickey Henderson and Willie Wilson to 97, 117 and 132 games, respectively.
"One time in '92, we went through an important stretch without our three outfielders, and we played Randy Ready, Eric Fox and Jerry Browne and climbed into first place," La Russa recalled. "But this is more guys and more time [missed]."
Edmonds coming around: Jim Edmonds hit .215 in July and .261 in August, but the center fielder has shown signs that he might be coming around with the bat to something resembling his career average of .294.
In his last eight games prior to Sunday's game against the Astros, Edmonds hit .310 (9-for-29) with three home runs, five RBIs and nine runs scored.
"It's been tough," Edmonds said. "All I can do is keep working and try to do what I can to help the team."
Edmonds has always hit well at Minute Maid Park and is 4-for-10 in the first two games of the series.
"It's no secret I like hitting in this park," he said. "It's a hitter's park. But wherever I'm playing, I need to get good swings and put the ball in play."
Extra bases: La Russa will be honored by the Cardinals ownership group prior to Monday's 1:15 p.m. CT game against the Chicago Cubs for his accomplishment of moving into sole possession of third place on baseball's all-time managerial wins list. La Russa passed Sparky Anderson on Aug. 25 with a win over Pittsburgh. La Russa has 2,200 career wins and 878 as manager of the Cardinals. Only Red Schoendienst, with 1,041, has more managerial wins as a Cardinal manager than La Russa. ... David Eckstein's first-inning single extended his hitting streak to nine consecutive games. ... Nunez has reached base 51 times in his last 35 games.
Baby 'Birds: Bill Pulsipher tied a franchise record with 15 strikeouts as Triple-A Memphis beat Albuquerque, 6-4. The left-hander went eight innings and allowed four runs on 10 hits with no walks. ... Randy Leek notched his Texas League-leading 15th win as Double-A Springfield beat Arkansas, 2-1. Leek leads all of Minor League baseball with 185 2/3 innings pitched. Travis Hanson drove in two runs to give him 97 RBIs for the season. ... Class A Palm Beach made team history as it clinched the East Division title for the second half. The first game of the playoffs will begin on Tuesday night.
Coming up: The Cardinals open a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs on Monday afternoon at Busch Stadium. Jeff Suppan will start the Labor Day afternoon game against Cubs right-hander Mark Prior. First pitch is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. CT.

Source: http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/

Marquis handcuffs Astros for series win

HOUSTON -- With October right around the corner, Jason Marquis' timing couldn't be any better.
The St. Louis right-hander fired a five-hitter for his second consecutive complete game, and the Cardinals cut their magic number to 12 with a 4-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Sunday afternoon at Minute Maid Park.
Marquis (11-13) did not walk a batter while striking out five. After seven consecutive losses, Marquis has bounced back big in his last two starts against Washington and the Astros, allowing a total of one run on seven hits in 18 innings, with no walks and eight strikeouts.
He is 4-0 with a 3.15 ERA against Houston in 2005.
"When you start struggling, you doubt yourself a little bit. That's not a good thing. You're out on the mound not trusting your stuff, waiting for the next bad thing to happen, instead of going out there and grabbing the bull by the horns and going after them," Marquis said. "To have these results in back-to-back games is definitely a confidence boost."
Jim Edmonds and Yadier Molina drove in two runs apiece to help the Cardinals take the series from their National League Central Division rival, two games to one. The Cardinals finished their 13-game road trip, their longest of the season, with a record of 9-4.
"This club has a real special knack for coming out every day and looking the same," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "Here it is the end of a two-week road trip, and we look just like we did the first game. These guys get themselves ready to play as good as anybody you want to see."
The Cardinals broke through for three runs in the sixth against Houston's rookie left-hander Wandy Rodriguez (9-7). All three scored after there were two outs.
With runners on second and third and one out, David Eckstein tried a squeeze bunt on a 1-2 pitch, but fouled it off for the strikeout. On the very next pitch from Rodriguez, Edmonds laced a base hit to center to score Abraham Nunez and Hector Luna. After a walk to Albert Pujols, Molina's single enabled Edmonds to score to make it 3-1, Cardinals.
Molina, hitting in the cleanup spot for only the fifth time this season, added an RBI single in the eighth off Brandon Duckworth.
"I see left-handers a little better [than right-handers]," Molina said. "But I don't change anything. I still just try to see the ball and hit the ball."
Molina has hit safely in seven consecutive games and went 6-for-13 in the series.
"He is playing so good in every facet of the game," La Russa said. "He's hitting fourth, and that's because nothing bothers him. He just plays. He's been as important as anybody we have; he's had an outstanding year."
A 1-0 fastball from Marquis found too much of the plate in the fourth inning, and Houston first baseman Lance Berkman found the left-field seats with it for his 16th homer and fourth hit against Cardinals pitching in six at-bats.
Both Molina and Marquis said it was a good pitch.
"[It was the] pitch I wanted -- ball was down in the zone. What are you going to do with that short porch in left?" Marquis said. "It was the pitch I wanted; it was down in the zone. He was just able to lift it up and take advantage of the stadium."
After Berkman's homer, Marquis retired the next nine Astros in order. The only baserunner the right-hander allowed in the final five innings was Jason Lane's seventh-inning single. Marquis retired 17 of the last 18 batters he faced, including the last seven straight.
Quite a turnaround from his midseason struggles.
"This is how he pitched earlier in the year," La Russa said. "He just got into a funk. It happens to pitchers, it happens to hitters, it happens to defenders. And in the middle of that funk, he had a couple of games like this. Against Washington and today, this was the way he was earlier in the year. This is just his second year in the rotation; he's still learning."
Marquis credited the help of pitching coach Dave Duncan with helping him turn things around. Marquis needed only 98 pitches against the Astros, including 71 strikes, to rack up his third complete game of the season.
"Dunc and I had a good talk, a good bullpen session, and put it to good use," Marquis said. "It's just really getting back to the basics and trying to get ahead of hitters with my sinker down in the zone and trying to get them to make contact early and keep my pitch count low."

Source: http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/

Notes: Fall League beckons seven

ST. LOUIS -- The Cardinals will send seven players to the Arizona Fall League this year, six of them from Double-A Springfield. Heading up the list is Chris Lambert, the right-hander who was St. Louis' first draft pick last year and pitched in the All-Star Futures Game in July.
Joining Lambert will be five of his Springfield teammates: right-handers Cory Doyne and Andy Cavazos, third baseman Travis Hanson, outfielder Cody Haerther and catcher/infielder Gabe Johnson. Also headed west will be righty Rich Scalamandre from Class A Palm Beach.
The AFL is one of the top showcases for prospects. Current Cardinals Albert Pujols and Brad Thompson are among the players who have showed off their skills in Arizona in past years.
Lambert, 22, had an up-and-down run after being promoted from Palm Beach, finishing with a 3-8 record and 6.35 ERA but turning in some excellent games along the way. Doyne, 24, held opponents to 40 hits in 66 2/3 innings, striking out 69 but walking 38 over three levels. He racked up 19 saves for Springfield. Cavazos, 24, tallied 67 Ks against just 14 walks over 60 2/3 innings at two levels.
Hanson, also 24, was St. Louis' ninth-round draft pick in 2002. He hit .284 with a .347 on-base percentage, 20 homers, 29 doubles and 97 RBIs. Haerther, 22, emerged this season as one of the Cards' most intriguing prospects. He hit .318/.380/.584 (batting average/on-base/slugging) in 47 games at Palm Beach, and .298/.333./.500 in 65 games after a promotion to Springfield. He totaled 18 homers, eight triples and 18 doubles in 381 at-bats.
Johnson, 25, has been primarily a catcher in the past, but he saw plenty of time at first base this year. He hit .251 with 13 extra-base hits in 183 at-bats. Scalamandre, 25, struck out 50, walked 29 and allowed three homers in 61 innings between Palm Beach and Springfield.
Rick Ankiel will not be headed to the AFL, even though he could use all the at-bats he can get. Ankiel will take some time to rest his sore knee, a condition that bothered him for much of the second half of the season.
Callups to come: The Cardinals are expected to make a few moves before Tuesday's home game against the Cubs, as Triple-A Memphis wraps up its regular season on Monday afternoon. Randy Flores will be recalled from Memphis, along with one or two other pitchers and, potentially, one or two position players.
Sanders coming along: Head athletic trainer Barry Weinberg remains encouraged by Reggie Sanders' progress. The Cardinals are still hoping that Sanders will be able to play at some point on the 10-game homestand that started Monday.
"It's like watching your beard grow," Weinberg said. "If you watch it day by day, you don't think it's getting much. But if you wait three or four days...
"I hadn't seen him in a couple days. He looked better today than the last time I saw him. I'll check on him again Thursday. His stride is getting better. He's starting to do some cuts and light plyometrics. He's progressing."
With Minor League seasons ending, Sanders will not be sent on a rehabilitation assignment. Instead, he will rely on pregame work as much as possible, then try to find his footing in full-speed big-league games.
Playoff time: Class A Quad Cities secured a playoff spot despite losing on Sunday. Wisconsin's win over Beloit guaranteed that the Swing will advance to the Midwest League postseason. The best-of-three first round will begin on Wednesday against an opponent to be determined.
Quad Cities and Palm Beach are the two Cardinals affiliates playing in the postseason. Palm Beach opens the Florida State League playoffs against Vero Beach on Tuesday night.
Today in Busch Stadium history: On Sept. 5, 1998, Mark McGwire became the first player since 1961, and only the third in history, to reach 60 home runs in a single season. McGwire connected for a two-run shot off Reds left-hander Dennys Reyes in the first inning of a 7-0 Cards win. He tied Babe Ruth for the second-highest total in big-league history. Thanks to Project Retrosheet (www.retrosheet.org) for the information.
Baby 'Birds: Memphis lost, 3-1, to Albuquerque on Sunday. Chris Duncan doubled and scored the only run for the Redbirds. ... Springfield closed out its season with an 18-9 loss to Arkansas, wrapping up with a 70-70 record. Lambert was pounded for six runs in two-thirds of an inning, while Ankiel hit two home runs. Ankiel finished the Minor League season with 21 home runs in 321 at-bats, hitting .259 in a year split between Springfield and Quad Cities. ... Palm Beach's regular season ended with a 4-3 loss to Jupiter. Tyler Greene went 2-for-5 and stole two bases. ... Quad Cities got seven strong innings from Nick Webber (two runs, five hits, one strikeout, two walks) in its 4-1 loss to Southwest Michigan. ... Three errors led to four unearned runs as short-season New Jersey lost, 6-5, to Williamsport. Mitchell Boggs allowed all of those unearned runs, plus two earned, but struck out five and walked two over six innings.
The player of the day is Ankiel, whose conversion to the outfield has to be considered a success thus far. After his recall from Quad Cities, he hit .276 with 10 home runs in 126 at-bats.
Coming up: Game 2 of the last series between the Cards and Cubs at the current Busch Stadium gets started at 7:10 p.m. CT on Tuesday. Matt Morris takes the ball against Chicago left-hander Glendon Rusch.

Source: http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/

Cards expand roster with six callups

ST. LOUIS -- The Cardinals expanded their roster by six names on Monday following the end of the Triple-A season. St. Louis called up three pitchers and three position players, bringing the team's active roster to 32 players.
Pitchers Anthony Reyes, Randy Flores and Adam Wainwright were recalled from Memphis, along with outfielders Skip Schumaker and John Gall. The contract of first baseman Chris Duncan, who is the son of pitching coach Dave Duncan, was purchased from Memphis.
For Wainwright and Duncan, it will be the first taste of regular-season Major League action. Reyes, Schumaker and Gall have all made brief appearances with the big club this season.
Flores was a key part of the St. Louis bullpen all season, but was optioned before the Aug. 31 game against Florida so that the Cardinals could have 14 position players and 11 pitchers on their roster. That will be the configuration that St. Louis uses in the postseason.
Catcher Mike Mahoney was added when Flores was optioned. Left-hander Tyler Johnson was called up on Sept. 1, the first day teams were permitted to expand their rosters beyond the standard 25 players.
A look at the callups:
1B Chris Duncan: A big man with prodigious power potential, Duncan hit .265 with 21 home runs in 127 games for Memphis this year. The 24-year-old left-handed hitter was a sandwich pick between the first and second rounds of the 1999 draft.
LHP Randy Flores: In his first full Major League season, Flores showed himself to be a more than capable lefty option out of the 'pen. He posted a 3.75 ERA before being sent down briefly. He will slot in as the second left-hander in the bullpen once again.
OF/1B John Gall: A polished hitter with a major college pedigree, Gall steadily made his way up the Minor League ladder before getting his first taste of the big leagues this year. He hit .274 with a .348 OBP and .439 slugging percentage for Memphis and went 4-for-18 in his brief St. Louis audition.
RHP Anthony Reyes: Reyes is considered the organization's No. 1 prospect. He was impressive in a one-start callup in August, getting a win against the Brewers. He went 7-6 with a 3.64 ERA, striking out 136 in 128 2/3 innings, for Memphis.
RHP Adam Wainwright: Acquired along with Ray King and Jason Marquis in the trade that sent J.D. Drew to Atlanta, Wainwright had an up-and-down year. He slumped for a while before coming on strong lately, and picked up the win in Memphis' season finale.
OF Skip Schumaker: A speedy center fielder, Schumaker had two brief tours with the Cardinals already this season. The 25-year-old hit .286 with a .331 on-base percentage and 13 steals in 16 tries for the Triple-A Redbirds.

Source: http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/

Two good: Late homers lift Cardinals

ST. LOUIS -- The Cardinals began re-assembling their championship puzzle in mid-August, when Yadier Molina and then Larry Walker returned from the disabled list. Another piece will be added in the coming days, when Reggie Sanders gets back in action.
On Monday, however, they saw a key piece, a piece that has been there all along, fit in the way it's supposed to. Ray King (4-2) pitched out of a difficult situation and was credited with the win as the Cards beat the Cubs, 6-4, at Busch Stadium. It was the first win, save or hold for King since Aug. 10, a stretch of 10 appearances.
After escaping a one-out, two-on situation with the score 2-2 in the eighth, King sat back and let his offense take over. David Eckstein drew a leadoff walk and Abraham Nunez beat out an infield single, bringing up Albert Pujols. The slugger did what he does, mauling his 36th home run to give the Cardinals a 5-2 lead. Jim Edmonds' solo shot made it 6-2, and though Jason Isringhausen allowed the Cubs to get close, St. Louis held on.
And while there was plenty to look at in an entertaining game, nothing that happened on Monday had more importance to the Cards' World Series dreams than King's showing.
"Ray may have recently suffered a little loss of confidence, and confidence comes by succeeding," said pitching coach Dave Duncan. "He went out there and had a real significant outing today, and that's another step towards that confidence being built back up.
"I'm sure by the time the playoffs get here, Ray King will be fine. Because we're going to give him as many opportunities as we can to pitch in those situations, and he's good enough to get the job done."
King took a small step forward with a solid outing in a blowout win over Florida last week, then a step back when he brought home the tying run with a hit batter against Houston on Friday. But on Monday afternoon, King did exactly what he'll be called on to do in the postseason.
A hit batter, a sacrifice and an intentional walk put two men on with one out in the eighth inning of a tie game, and manager Tony La Russa summoned King to face left-hander Jeromy Burnitz. King induced a groundout from Burnitz, then issued a semi-intentional walk to righty-swinging Nomar Garciaparra. Left-hander Todd Walker softly lined the first pitch he saw from King to center field, ending the inning.
In the bottom of the inning, the St. Louis offense got to Roberto Novoa (3-5), making King the winning pitcher.
"I come in and get a ground ball, get a popup, get us back in the dugout and the big guys come through," said King. "It's the way it should be. We battled and got the hits when we needed them."
A crisply played pitchers' duel, scoreless in the mid-fifth, turned into an ugly game in the middle innings. Nunez's single handcuffed rookie shortstop Ronny Cedeno and gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead in the fifth, and a wild pitch made it 2-0. Half an inning later, the Cards returned the favor, as a walk, a Nunez error and a wild pitch set up Burnitz's two-run, game-tying single.
Starter Jeff Suppan didn't allow an earned run in six innings, but took no decision thanks to the two unearned tallies in the top of the sixth. Al Reyes pitched a perfect seventh. Brad Thompson got into trouble in the eighth, but King got out of it.
"To get the call and get in and get results, that feels good, especially this time of year," said King. "We're looking at three or four weeks and hopefully we're going into the postseason. You can build momentum and build confidence in yourself."
As for Pujols, the Cardinals had confidence in him all along. When he eradicated the 2-2 offering from Novoa, a sellout crowd of nearly 50,000 broke out into chants of "M-V-P!" Pujols said he's not thinking about the award, but he's clearly established himself as one of two or three favorites.
"It will be great if I win," he said. "If I don't, who cares? I just want to get my team back to the World Series."
That will be easier if Edmonds picks up his production, as he seems to be doing lately. After a big series over the weekend in Houston, he followed it up with his 25th home run. A potent Edmonds means fewer attempts to pitch around Pujols.
"I know he's kind of disappointed with the season that he's having, but still, the guy is struggling and he's got 25 home runs and 78 RBIs," said Pujols. "I've had Jimmy hitting behind me for the last five years, and I know that he's going to click on and drive me in.
"There's no need for me to put pressure on myself or try to chase a ball out of the strike zone. If I take the walk, I know he's going to drive me in like he has the last couple of weeks. Believe me, he's getting hot, so watch out."
With Monday's victory, the Cardinals' magic number is down to 11, and they are a season-high 38 games over .500.

Source: http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/

Notes: Better late than never

ST. LOUIS -- Adam Wainwright sort of figured he would have arrived in the Major Leagues already. A reasonable ETA for the right-hander was always 2005, but Wainwright chose to think of it a little differently.
"I always thought it would be a little sooner," Wainwright said Tuesday as he prepared to take the field as a Major Leaguer for the first time. "People always said it would be this year, but when you're a player, you don't really look at it that way. I thought it was going to be a little sooner.
"But now is perfect."
Wainwright was one of six players called up from Triple-A Memphis on Monday, after that team's season ended. It's unclear how he'll fit in the Cards' plans this fall, though he'll most likely pitch in relief. Every inning he pitches this month will add to the picture that Cardinals management has of Wainwright. Next spring, he's expected to compete for a spot in the starting rotation.
"I'd like to show the people here that I can pitch up here," he said.
"I have my pom-poms right here. I'll be a cheerleader. I'm ready for whatever role. It's a good experience, whether I pitch a lot or just pitch a little bit. I'm just happy with my role and where I'm at right now. It's better than being back in Georgia."
Wainwright, acquired from the Braves in the same trade that brought Jason Marquis and Ray King over from Atlanta, started the season on an impressive roll. He faltered in midseason, posting ERAs above 5.00 in June, July and August, but by mid-August he had righted himself. Over Wainwright's last four starts, he went 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA, 31 strikeouts and seven walks in 26 innings.
"At the beginning, I had the best stretch of my career," he said. "I was really locating the ball down in the zone. The further the season went, I think my arm angle dropped a little bit and the ball was up a little more, flattened out a bit. I don't know what caused it, but that's what it was.
"It took somebody who was on our team, Jeremy Cummings. He went down to Double-A and came back up, and he said my arm angle was different."
Duncan's big chance: Perhaps the most unexpected callup was Chris Duncan, the son of pitching coach Dave Duncan. The younger Duncan has played first base and outfield, pacing Memphis with 21 home runs.
"It was really exciting," Chris Duncan said of taking the field at Busch Stadium. "I've been here a lot of times, but it was mostly when I was younger. You know, to come in here and put a uniform on is pretty exciting."
Manager Tony La Russa enjoys seeing all of the new faces get a taste of big-league ball.
"It's a young player's dream to come up in September and get a feel for it," La Russa said. "It's a recognition that they're well thought of. Just observing gives them a lot of chances to compare what they do to the big leagues.
"And it will be good for us. I'm sure there will be a game or two where we bang guys, and we might not be able to do that otherwise."
The other new Cardinals called were pitchers Anthony Reyes and Randy Flores, outfielder Skip Schumaker and outfielder/first baseman John Gall.
Cardinals join relief effort: As part of the league-wide Hurricane Katrina relief effort, the Cardinals and the American Red Cross' St. Louis Chapter announced Tuesday that they will have volunteers accepting donations for hurricane victims from fans attending Wednesday's Cards-Cubs game.
Volunteers from the St. Louis Area Red Cross and Cardinals Care, along with wives of Cardinals players, will be stationed throughout Busch Stadium before and during the game. Fans will have an opportunity to make donations as they enter the stadium turnstiles, at various locations within the ballpark and at guest relations locations on levels 3 and 6.
Fans may also make donations at StlCardinals.com or MLB.com, at redcross.org or by calling 1-800-Help-Now. The Cardinals will also continue to accept donations from fans through the end of the current homestand at the Guest Relations booths. Checks should be made payable to the American Red Cross.
Bands return: In a follow-up to a similar campaign from 2004, Hardee's and the Cardinals have released a new "Go Cards" rally band. The new red-and-white rubber wristbands are available for $1 each at all St. Louis-area Hardee's locations, with proceeds going to Cardinals Care.
Today in Busch Stadium history: On Sept. 6, 2002, Andy Benes had a pair of base hits in a complete-game win over the Cubs and his younger brother, Alan. It was the first Major League matchup between the two brothers. Albert Pujols drove in four runs in the 11-2 victory.
Baby 'Birds: Wainwright pitched a fine game in Memphis' season finale on Monday, picking up the win in a 4-2 triumph over Albuquerque. The Redbirds finished with a 71-72 record. Wainwright struck out seven and walked two, allowing one run on five hits. ... Class A Quad Cities ended its regular season on a down note, falling, 5-4, against Southwest Michigan. Mike Ferris went 2-for-4 and Wes Swackhamer hit a home run. ... Short-season New Jersey lost, 3-2, in 10 innings to Staten Island. Quinton Robertson allowed a run on seven hits, striking out four and walking one, but received no decision.
The player of the day is Schumaker, who hit a solo home run and added a sacrifice fly to fuel Memphis' offense. The 25-year-old speedster finished with seven homers, almost as many as he totaled in his previous four professional seasons combined (eight in 414 games).
Coming up: The Cards host the Cubs at the current Busch Stadium for the final time on Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. CT. Mark Mulder will aim for his 16th win for St. Louis against Hall of Fame-bound right-hander Greg Maddux.

Source: http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/

Cards make a late run at Cubs, but fall

ST. LOUIS -- For six innings Tuesday, Cardinals fans sat on their hands waiting for the Redbirds to do something, anything, against Cubs starter Glendon Rusch.
Rusch took a perfect game into the seventh inning and a one-hitter into the eighth. But the Cardinals swung the momentum their way that inning, touching Rusch for two runs before he was pulled in favor of reliever Scott Williamson.
Down three runs, with runners on first and third and two outs, the Cardinals brought the tying run to the plate in Jim Edmonds, who had three home runs in his past five games, to face reliever Will Ohman.
It was the juicy matchup a sold-out crowd of 47,292 was waiting to see. A day earlier, the matchup resulted in Edmonds blasting his 25th home run of the year. On Tuesday, though, the Edmonds-Ohman matchup ended with Edmonds grounding out. It was an anti-climactic finish to the only rally the Cardinals put together all night as the Cubs held on for a 5-2 win at Busch Stadium.
"I tip my hat to Rusch, he pitched a masterpiece. He was in charge all night long," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "He put the ball on the edges, mixed in his breaking ball, moved it around -- it was just really well done."
Starting pitcher Matt Morris (14-7, 3.97 ERA) put the Cardinals in a hole early, giving up two runs in the first on 36 pitches. The right-hander never recovered, giving up four runs (three earned) in 4 1/3 innings pitched. He walked one, struck out none and gave up nine hits. It is the third time this season Morris has lost to the Cubs. He is 0-3 with an 8.29 ERA against Chicago.
"The Cubs take a good approach and they've got something on me that I keep doing -- whether it's offspeed when I am ahead in the count, they seem to sit on some curveballs and put some good bats on them," Morris said. "I tip my hat to them, but I have to make some better pitches."
Morris has lost his last two starts and has allowed nine earned runs in 11 1/3 innings pitched. He was mired in a midseason funk but seemed to snap out of it with consecutive wins, in which he gave up just two runs in each outing.
"Physically, I'm feeling good, better than a month ago." Morris said. "It seems like I am recovering fast from my surgery, but I want to execute and go home feeling good when I go to sleep."
While Morris struggled to find his command, Rusch (6-8, 4.67 ERA) was busy pitching the game of his life. He retired 18 straight batters until David Eckstein rapped a base hit through the middle of the infield in the seventh inning.
"You're always hoping for a no-hitter when a guy goes that deep in a ballgame," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "We figured it'd be Eckstein who would break it up. He's a good little ballplayer. It's hard to corral him. "
Eckstein said Rusch's performance was possibly the most dominating he has faced all season.
"Without a doubt," Eckstein said. "His location was unbelievable. You watch the film and he throws the ball up a lot, but today he was throwing the ball down, right at the knees, on the corners. He did a fantastic job tonight."
The Cardinals scored two runs, with two outs courtesy of the bottom of the order. Abraham Nunez (the No. 7 hitter) singled and scored on a Hector Luna (No. 8 hitter) double. Luna then scored on a base hit by John Gall, who came in as part of a double switch. Eckstein moved Gall to third with his infield single, but Ohman snuffed the rally by inducing Edmonds to ground out to second base.
The loss overshadowed another solid performance by the Cardinals bullpen. Randy Flores, Brad Thompson, Tyler Johnson and Cal Edlred combined to pitch 4 2/3 innings, giving up one run, striking out four and walking just one.
For Johnson, it was his Major League debut. He pitched an inning, gave up no runs and struck out one batter.
"I just tried to keep my composure, take a deep breath and throw strikes," Johnson said. "I was a little stressed out and felt a little pressure, but it's part of the game. It got a little easier after the first batter, I'll admit that."
With the loss, combined with a Houston loss, the Cardinals' magic number remains at 11. They still lead the Central Division by 13 1/2 games.

Source: http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/

Carpenter named NL Player of Week

Garnering another achievement in an already remarkable season, St. Louis pitcher Chris Carpenter was named the National League's Player of the Week, presented by Bank of America, for the week of Aug. 29 through Sept. 24.
Carpenter, who led the league in innings pitched and was tied for the league lead in wins and complete games, capped off his award-winning week Saturday with a complete-game win over the Houston Astros to become the first player to win 20 games this season.
In that game, Carpenter -- whose consistent excellence has made him a strong candidate for this year's Cy Young Award -- bested seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens, allowing two runs on eight hits and striking out eight in St. Louis' 4-2 win. It was Carpenter's league-leading seventh complete game and his 12th win in as many decisions. The last Cardinals pitcher to win more than 12 consecutive games was Bob Gibson, with 15 straight victories in 1968.
"I can't remember a pitcher as long as I've been managing who has been so good every time out," manager Tony La Russa said after Saturday's game. "He just concentrates about as good as he can concentrate."
Carpenter, who was the National League's starting pitcher in the 76th All-Star Game, went 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA and struck out 13 overall during the week. He logged 16 2/3 innings, while allowing 15 hits, three earned runs and three walks.
As part of the award, Bank of America will make a $1,000 donation to the Little League Urban Initiative on Carpenter's behalf and Tourneau, the world's largest watch store, will present Carpenter with a Tourneau luxury Swiss timepiece.

Source: http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/

Pujols an Aaron finalist again

HOUSTON -- Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols is one of 12 finalists for the Hank Aaron Award presented by CENTURY 21 to honor the outstanding offensive achievement in each league.
"He's doing basically what he's done every year since he got here," St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said of Pujols. "He's just amazing."
Pujols is just the fourth player in Major League history to have five straight 100-RBI seasons to begin his career, joining Hall of Famers Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio and Al Simmons. On Aug. 6 Pujols hit his 30th home run to become the first player in Major League history to hit 30 or more home runs in each of his first five seasons. The Cardinals slugger leads the Major Leagues with 111 runs scored.
Pujols was honored as the Aaron Award winner in 2003, along with AL winner Alex Rodriguez. Last year Boston's Manny Ramirez and Barry Bonds of San Francisco were the honorees.
From Sept. 6 through Sept. 30, fans will be able to vote from among the six finalists in each League to determine the American League and National League recipients of the 2005 Hank Aaron Award presented by CENTURY 21. Voting will take place exclusively at MLB.com, the official Web site of Major League Baseball.
Joining Pujols as NL candidates are Atlanta's Andruw Jones, Chicago's Derrek Lee, Cincinnati's Ken Griffey Jr., Florida's Miguel Cabrera and Houston's Morgan Ensberg.
The 12 finalists were chosen from among 30 nominees, one from each Major League Baseball Club, by a special panel assembled by Major League Baseball, MLB.com and Century 21 Real Estate. During August, fans voted for one of three players from each team via the Club's official Web site, and the leading vote getter from each team became one of the 30 Club nominees. The winners of the 2005 Hank Aaron Award presented by CENTURY 21® will be announced during a press conference prior to Game Four of the 2005 World Series.
As part of the online balloting program, one lucky fan will win a trip for four to the 2005 World Series and have an opportunity to meet Mr. Aaron. The Hank Aaron Award presented by CENTURY 21 will be supported through a promotional campaign including in-stadium announcements and online advertising.
The Hank Aaron Award was created in 1999 to honor the 25th anniversary of Aaron breaking Babe Ruth's career home run record. For its inaugural season, the award was decided by combining the players' number of hits, home runs, and RBI. From 2000-2002, winners of the award were chosen by a vote of Major League Baseball Club broadcasters. In 2003, the Hank Aaron Award presented by CENTURY 21 was decided by broadcaster vote and, for the first time, an online fan vote, which was weighed in a 70-30 split. This is the second consecutive year that the award will be decided by Major League Baseball fans via an online ballot.

Source: http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/

Man of the Year nominees announced

One of the most powerful things about Major League Baseball is the ability it provides its players to give something back to their communities.
Many of MLB's players spend plenty of time organizing philanthropic efforts that pay off throughout the year, whether it be handing out turkeys on Thanksgiving Day or honoring our troops in Iraq. Last week, MLB stepped up to the plate with the Players Union to donate $1 million to relief for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
With that in mind, the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, named for the first executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, is given to the player whose combination of on-field performance and community contributions most inspires others to a higher level of achievement.
The winner will be announced during the World Series or shortly thereafter in conjunction with the rest of the Players Choice Awards, which include Overall Player of the Year and Outstanding Player, Outstanding Pitcher, Outstanding Rookie and Comeback Player awards in each league.
Each Players Choice Award winner will designate a charity to receive a grant from the Players Trust, a not-for-profit foundation created and administered by the players, in an amount ranging from $20,000 to $50,000.
The players on each of the 30 clubs have nominated one of their teammates for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award -- Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Jim Thome won it last year -- and now fans are being asked to choose six finalists.
Fans should read the 30 nominees' brief community involvement profiles, then vote for one player from each division. The players will then choose the award winner from among the six fan-picked finalists as part of their annual Players Choice Awards balloting at ballparks throughout the country on Sept. 13-14.
Voting for the six finalists will take place right here at MLB.com from Sept. 6-11. Here are the candidates:
AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST
Baltimore Orioles: Brian RobertsAs the spokesman for Maryland's statewide summer reading program, Brian has spent the season visiting libraries and reading to children. Brian also frequently visits the University of Maryland Children's Hospital and Johns Hopkins, to which he donated 300 Orioles tickets to children recovering from heart surgery. A heart surgery survivor himself, Brian visits with heart surgery patients on the road as well.
Boston Red Sox: Tim WakefieldIn Boston, Tim works closely with the Franciscan Hospital for Children, meeting with young patients at Fenway Park before each Tuesday home game via his Wakefield Warriors program. He also supports the Space Coast Early Intervention Center and holds the annual Tim Wakefield Celebrity Golf Classic to raise funds for the center.
New York Yankees: Derek JeterCreated by Derek in his rookie season, the Turn 2 Foundation encourages children to adopt healthy lifestyles as well as focus on academics and leadership development. Since 1996, Turn 2 has awarded over $4.5 million in grants to fund scholarships, camps, after-school programs and substance abuse treatment and prevention initiatives. Derek himself fundraises for Turn 2 by hosting annual golf tournaments and dinners.
Toronto Blue Jays: Roy HalladayThrough their Doc's Box for Kids Program, Roy and Brandy Halladay have helped dozens of patients from the Hospital for Sick Children escape their daily reality of medical treatments and enjoy a fun-filled evening at the Rogers Centre. At Roy's invitation, Doc's Box participants are invited to spend the day in Roy's luxury box.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays: Toby HallKnown throughout Tampa Bay for his community service efforts, Toby is involved with numerous charities, including Piniella's Safe Start, the Ronald McDonald House, Dine with the Devil Rays, and the National Down Syndrome Society. Toby is also a constant participant in multiple team-based goodwill initiatives including the Let's Play ... For the Kids! program, which gives complimentary Rays tickets to local disadvantaged youth.
AL CENTRAL
Cleveland Indians: C.C. SabathiaC.C. has committed to donate $250,000 over the life of his current contract to the Larry Doby RBI Program. He also is directly involved with many local initiatives, including Red Cross Fire Prevention Week, the Cleveland Scholarship Program and Tribe Loving Care. Additionally, C.C. regularly donates food to the Vallejo (Calif.) Boys & Girls Club and, last Thanksgiving, he gave 200 turkey baskets to the Bethany Baptist Church.
Kansas City Royals: Mike SweeneyKansas City has benefited tremendously from Mike's dedication to children via his involvement with Children's Mercy Hospital and local chapters of the Boys & Girls Club, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Youth Front. As spokesman for Enjoy the Game, Mike actively promotes teamwork and good sportsmanship. Mike also hosts area charity and non-profit groups at Royals games through his "Sween Team."
Detroit Tigers: Mike MarothMike and his wife, Brooke, have initiated numerous community programs in Detroit since their arrival in 2002, including Unity in the Community, a neighborhood literacy festival, and a leftover food distribution program called "Rock and Wrap it Up!" Mike also works closely with the Disabled American Veterans, the Tigers Care Dreams Come True Program, Think Detroit and several Christian fellowships.
Minnesota Twins: Jacque JonesA former Boys & Girls Club member, Jacque gives back by throwing an annual club fundraiser and hosting club members at Twins games. He also works with the Twins Rookie League and RBI Program and speaks out against prejudice for the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. In addition, Jacque subsidizes Double J's Gang, a program that sends 5,000 children per year to Twins games free of charge.
Chicago White Sox: Aaron RowandAn inspiration to children in both Chicago and his hometown of Las Vegas, Aaron is active in numerous children's charities, including the Boys & Girls Club of Chicago and the White Sox Academy for Kids. Aaron also raises money for Books for Children, collects food for the Food Depository of Chicago and is a regular visitor to the Children's Hospital.
AL WEST
Oakland A's: Barry ZitoThis past spring, Barry founded Strikeouts For Troops, which provides the traditional comforts of home to recovering soldiers. He donates $100 to Strikeouts for Troops for every strikeout he records and has persuaded 17 other MLB players to do the same. Barry also supports the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Special Olympics and has danced in the Oakland Ballet's "Nutcracker" to raise funds.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Darin ErstadA great supporter of the Southern California region, Darin has helped build and refurbish playing fields in both Long Beach and Garden Grove. He also works closely with the Boys & Girls Club of Fullerton, where he and his wife, Jessica, serve Thanksgiving meals to families. In addition, Darin supports Riverside Community College, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Orange County Rescue Mission.
Seattle Mariners: Jamie MoyerJamie supports a number of Seattle-based organizations, including the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, where he sponsors a fund-raising cookbook. He also created the Moyer Foundation, and chairs the Bowl for Life tournament. Jamie also works closely with the LifeCenter Northwest Organ Donor Network, Hospice of Snohomish County, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Leukemia Foundation and the Teammates for Kids Foundation.
Texas Rangers: Michael YoungActive in a number of charitable causes in and around the Dallas area, Michael was selected as the recipient of the 2003 Harold McKinney Good Guy Award by the Dallas-Fort Worth Baseball Writers Association. Michael has been a supporter of the Players Trust's Buses for Baseball program and plays host to a number of underprivileged children attending Rangers games. Michael also serves as a program ambassador of the charitable organization Wipe Out Kids Cancer.
NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST
Atlanta Braves: Andruw JonesAs honorary director of Jaden's Ladder, Andruw donates time and money to survivors of domestic violence. He takes part in numerous team service efforts, including the Braves Foundation Turkey Drop, the team's Christmas in July hospital and nursing home visits, and the Atlanta Braves Dreams Come True program. Andruw's native Curacao also benefits from his generosity: He fully sponsors the island's Little League team.
Florida Marlins: Jeff ConineJeff and his wife, Cindy, co-founded the Conine All-Star Classic, an annual celebrity golf tournament that raises money for the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital. Jeff also is involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and several Miami charities. During the season, Jeff does his part to help cheer up sick children by inviting them to attend Marlins games as his personal guests.
New York Mets: Tom GlavineUpon coming to New York, Tom joined up with Tuesday's Children, an organization for children who lost parents on Sept. 11, 2001. Tom visits Tuesday's Children weekly and has established a $100,000 Mets college scholarship for their benefit. He also serves as the New York affiliate spokesperson for the Volunteers of America's 2005 Operation Backpack program. The program encourages the donation of backpacks and school supplies for NYC's homeless children.
Washington Nationals: Brad WilkersonBrad donates significant time and money to his hometown of Owensboro, Ky., through both his own foundation and numerous local charities. With the help of Brad's $20,000 donation, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund is currently building a new baseball field for the Boys & Girls Club of Owensboro, which also benefits from Brad's annual golf tournament. Brad also supports the YMCA and the First Tee Program.
Philadelphia Phillies: Bobby AbreuThis year marked the beginning of Bobby's involvement with the Philadelphia Action Team, a youth volunteer initiative administered by the MLB Players Trust and Volunteers of America. Bobby also works closely with the ALS Association by participating in the annual Phillies Phestival ALS fund-raiser and enables hundreds of underprivileged kids to attend Phillies games for free via his Abreu's Amigos program.
NL CENTRAL
Milwaukee Brewers: Ben SheetsBen is so devoted to supporting the community that structured giving is actually included in his contract. The contract promises that Ben will purchase $50,000 worth of Brewers tickets each season to distribute to disadvantaged youth. Ben also works closely with both the Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation and the St. Jude Children's Research Foundation.
St. Louis Cardinals: Albert PujolsAs spokesman for the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis, Albert dedicates much of his time to working with Down Syndrome patients. He also serves as chairman of the Buddy Walk Fund Raiser and the St. Louis Down Syndrome Association Golf Benefit. In addition, Albert and his wife regularly deliver teddy bears to children at Cardinal Glennon Hospital.
Chicago Cubs: Kerry WoodKerry's primary charitable contributions occur through the Kerry Wood Strike Zone Celebrity Bowling Tournament, an annual event aimed at raising money to fight cancer. This year's event raised over $400,000 for the Children's Memorial Hospital. The Cubs pitcher also participates in Woody's Weekend Warriors, a charity ticket program, and supports MLB's RBI Program and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Jack WilsonThis past July, Jack hosted the inaugural Bowling with the Bucs charity tournament, which raised over $10,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He also served as the 2005 Honorary Chairman of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Hop-A-Thon, an event that raised over $200,000 for blood cancer research, and is active in the Junior Pirates Rookie Ball Program and the Pennsylvania Anti-Tobacco Campaign.
Cincinnati Reds: Sean CaseyDeeply committed to his community, Sean is involved with numerous charitable groups, including Cincinnati Lighthouse Youth Services, the World Hunger Association, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Reds Community Fund. Sean also participates in Casey's Crew, a program that invites at-risk children to Saturday Reds home games. The Joe Nexhall Character Education Fund, a character development program, also benefits from Sean's support.
Houston Astros: Andy PettitteAndy is known throughout baseball as a caring and giving individual. He has been actively involved supporting a number of charitable causes throughout his career, both in New York and in Houston. He dedicates much of his charitable efforts to help children in need, and was honored by the Reviving Baseball in the Inner Cities program (RBI) for his efforts to help disadvantaged children learn important lessons through baseball. While a member of the New York Yankees, he was recognized by the New York Sports Photographers with its annual Good Guy Award.
NL WEST
Arizona Diamondbacks: Tony ClarkThis year, Tony established the MVP Foundation to help children achieve their goals through education and athletics. The MVP Foundation donates tickets to members of the Boys & Girls Club of Metropolitan Phoenix. Tony continues to be a driving force behind the MLB Players Trust, a charitable foundation created by the players to help the needy and encourage volunteerism. During his time with the Detroit Tigers, Tony supplied sports equipment to Detroit public schools and supported the Detroit Tigers Tony Clark Negro League Scholarship Fund.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Milton BradleySince arriving in L.A., Milton has become an extremely active member of the community. This year, Milton sponsored the creation of two local baseball academies, and in 2004, he founded Bradley's Crew, a program that brings local youths to Dodger Stadium. An active participant in the Dodgers Dream Foundation, Milton also visits numerous hospitals and schools via such programs as Take a Dodger to School.
San Diego Padres: Dave RobertsDave has contributed to the community this year by donating game-used items to the Rancho Buena Vista Little League and reading at the Del Mar Fair. He also supports to Magdalena Ecke YMCA and has donated a significant sum of money toward the purchase of baseball and softball equipment for local high schools through his Swipes for Schools program.
Colorado Rockies: Todd HeltonTodd lends his support to organizations in both Colorado -- where he currently resides -- and Tennessee, where he grew up. In Knoxville, Todd hosts an annual golf tournament to raise money for the children's hospital. Todd also makes regular visits to the children's hospital in Denver and is involved in the Care and Share Program, which donates equipment to sick kids.
San Francisco Giants: Mike MathenyA former Roberto Clemente Service Award nominee, Mike works closely with many charities including his own Catch 22 Foundation, which raises money for baseball facilities for disabled children and donates tickets. Mike has also appeared in PSAs for the Walk America Heart Association and the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and was the spokesman for the 2001 Pitch for Life bone marrow donor drive. Mike also lead efforts to construct a Miracle Field in the St. Louis Area, allowing children with special needs to enjoy the game of baseball in a safe and fun environment.

Source: http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/

Mulder's gem not enough for Cards

ST. LOUIS -- The standings say the Cardinals' magic number is 11. According to the old "Schoolhouse Rock" song, three is the magic number. Mark Mulder just knows that for him, it's not two.
For the second straight game, a two-run second inning was all that stood between Mulder and a spotless outing. For the second straight game, that two-run second resulted not from a couple of rockets, or one big shot, but from dinks and bloops. For the second straight game, Mulder pitched well enough to win, but the Cardinals lost.
On Wednesday night, in the Cubs' final game at the current Busch Stadium, Chicago's Greg Maddux outdueled Mulder -- but didn't necessarily outpitch him -- in a 2-1 St. Louis defeat. The Cardinals have lost consecutive games for the first time since Aug. 11-12 against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. By dropping two out of three to Chicago, they also lost their first series since that same visit to Wrigley, when they lost three out of four from Aug. 11-14.
Mulder, despite the team's losses in his last two games and three out of five, is pitching as well as anybody on the team, short of Cy Young contender Chris Carpenter.
"I'm going out there with a lot of confidence right now," Mulder said. "It's taken me a little while to find a good sinker, but I've found it, so you've got to go with what's working. You don't want to try to do [something different] just because you've had a couple games like this. You keep doing what you're doing and everything else will take care of itself."
Mulder was done in by a two-run second in which only one ball was even hit all that hard. Michael Barrett dribbled a one-out single up the middle, the kind of ball that's an easy out if it's hit anywhere else. Jeromy Burnitz barely beat out a potential double play to keep the inning alive, bringing up Neifi Perez with two outs and Burnitz on first.
Perez drilled a double to straightaway center field for the first run, and Matt Murton hit a bloop single over second baseman Hector Luna to bring home Perez. After that -- and before that, for that matter -- Mulder was all but untouchable. He mowed down the Cubs mercilessly and efficiently until the ninth inning. It wasn't enough, however, and the left-hander was saddled with his seventh loss of the season.
"I've lost my share of 2-1 complete games before," he said. "It's happened. I was happy with the way I finished the game, though -- the last couple innings, having guys on base and getting those double plays. You don't walk away from a loss like this [ticked] off and disappointed. Sure, you'd like to win it, but it happens."
The missed double play might have been the key play in the game. If David Eckstein had been able to turn an admittedly very difficult twin killing, Mulder might have been a 1-0 winner instead of a 2-1 loser.
"I went and got it," Eckstein said of the ball that went straight up the middle. "I went across the bag and came up, and just stepped and threw.
"It's more of a reaction. The main thing once I got back -- Barrett was on top of me -- was just to step on the base, jump out of the way and throw the ball. Just get some room to throw it."
Mulder didn't allow another runner to reach second base until the ninth inning. By contrast, the Cardinals had plenty of chances -- they just couldn't do anything with them. Three straight singles loaded the bases with no outs in the third, but Jim Edmonds hit into a 1-2-3 double play and John Mabry struck out.
"That's the one thing," lamented manager Tony La Russa. "Jim's a veteran hitter. If you make a double play to short, the left side or the right side, you get a run. But that's Maddux. He made a pitch and that's where the ball was hit."
The Cardinals couldn't plate a run after So Taguchi's one-out double in the sixth. Pinch-hitter John Rodriguez walked to bring up a first-and-third, two-out chance, but Mulder struck out. An inning later, Albert Pujols cut the lead in half with a massive solo home run.
One last chance, against closer Ryan Dempster, fell short. Rodriguez barely beat out an infield single to open the inning, but was removed from the bases when Skip Schumaker bunted into a force play at second base. Schumaker took second on a wild pitch by Dempster and moved to third on Eckstein's groundball out, but Abraham Nunez struck out looking to end the game.
"It was too close to take," Nunez said of the game's final pitch. "I thought it was a ball, but it was closer than I thought."
The Cardinals have lost just three series since late June, all of them at the hands of the Cubs. St. Louis' magic number to clinch the National League Central remained at 11 over the Astros, who finished a sweep in Philadelphia to climb within 12 1/2 games.

Source: http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/

Notes: Duncan's suspension reduced

ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan had his suspension cut in half after a conference call with John McHale, Major League Baseball's executive vice president of administration. Duncan's four-game suspension for his part in an Aug. 24 altercation between the Cardinals and Pirates was reduced to two contests.
Duncan already served one game of the suspension, so Wednesday night's game will be the only further game he misses.
"I still think it's excessive," said Duncan, "but I appreciate them reconsidering and listening to what I had to say."
Duncan's $1,000 fine was upheld upon review.
"I thought it was an awfully big fine for what involvement I had," Duncan said. "I thought it was an excessive fine."
Before the Aug. 24 game, Duncan approached Pirates pitcher Rick White to ask about an inside pitch that White had thrown to Hector Luna the night before. Accounts vary somewhat on what exactly happened after that, but then-Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon confronted Duncan about his exchange with White, and Perry intervened soon after.
Television replays indicated some sort of physical contact between Perry and Duncan. The Cardinals coach asserts that he was punched by Perry, while Perry maintains he only pushed Duncan.
Duncan was permitted to participate in pregame activities, but had to be out of uniform by game time on Wednesday.
"I look at it as an opportunity to say, 'No comment,'" said Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. "I appreciate that Dunc had a chance to explain his position. Whatever they decided is what it's going to be."
Grudzielanek scratched: In addition to his top lieutenant, La Russa had to make do without one of his core players. Mark Grudzielanek was unavailable because his back was sore, forcing Luna to be inserted in the lineup at second base. Grudzielanek has a lifetime .340 batting average against Cubs starter Greg Maddux, so it was not a move La Russa would have preferred to make.
"His back is barking a little bit, so we didn't want to risk it," La Russa said. "I think he could have played if we really wanted to push him. I'm not sure we wanted to push him. If it was the playoffs, could he play? Probably."
Sanders close? La Russa said before Wednesday's game that the plan is still for Reggie Sanders to play on the Cardinals' current homestand, but nothing is certain yet. The manager all but ruled out Sanders playing over the weekend against the Mets, leaving the series next week against Pittsburgh as a target.
"I don't expect him to play this next weekend," La Russa said. "I think there's a chance he'll play this homestand."
Pujols nominated for Miller award: On the same day he was announced as the Cardinals' nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, Albert Pujols was nominated for another prestigious piece of hardware. Pujols is the team's finalist for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, presented annually by the MLB Players Association in recognition of the "Major League Baseball player whose on-field performance and contributions to his community inspire others to higher levels of achievement."
In a new twist on the Miller award, fans may vote on the winner. Voting is being held at www.MLBPlayers.com, the official Web site of the Players Association.
Cardinals participate in relief effort: The Cardinals took part as Major League Baseball chipped in for Hurricane Katrina relief on Wednesday. All teams playing at home held in-stadium collection drives to give fans the opportunity to donate to the American Red Cross relief effort. In addition to Red Cross volunteers, Cardinals wives participated in the in-stadium fundraising.
All players wore an American Red Cross decal on their batting helmets on Wednesday, emblematic of the relief effort. Also, the Red Cross logo, along with the telephone number to call in donations, appeared on the sides of the bases and on commemorative lineup cards.
Today in Busch Stadium history: On Sept. 7, 1998, Mark McGwire hit his record-tying 61st home run of the season. McGwire's blast to tie Roger Maris was a solo job off the Cubs' Mike Morgan in the first inning of a 3-2 St. Louis victory. Thanks to Project Retrosheet for the information.
Baby 'Birds: Class A Palm Beach opened up the Florida State League playoffs with a 4-3 win over Vero Beach on Tuesday. Michael Parisi pitched seven strong innings for the win, and Brian Martin and Tony McQuade each had a run and an RBI. ... Short-season New Jersey beat Staten Island, 5-3, as Adam Rodgers doubled twice and drove in a run.
The player of the day is Martin, who reached base three times and was in the middle of both of Palm Beach's rallies. He singled, doubled and walked. Martin, 25, signed with the Cardinals organization this past winter as a Minor League free agent.
Coming up: The Mets make their first, last and only regular-season visit to Busch Stadium, starting Thursday at 7:10 p.m. CT. Chris Carpenter will aim for win No. 21, best in the big leagues, while Kris Benson will toe the rubber for visiting New York.

Source: http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/