INSIDE
PITCH
Right
fielder Carlos Beltran and right-hander Jake Westbrook made short work of the
Diamondbacks on Tuesday, but after the Cardinals' easy 6-1 win, they still
couldn't relax because of a left hand injury suffered by catcher Yadier Molina.
Initial
X-rays found no break after Molina was crossed up and hit in the left hand by a
pitch from right-hander Mitchell Boggs in the ninth inning, but more tests will
be forthcoming.
Beltran, for the second time in a week, hit two homers and drove at
least six runs. On Tuesday, he hit a first-inning breaking ball from
Arizona
right-hander Ian Kennedy for a two-run homer. In the second, an inning kept
alive by a two-out walk to the light-hitting Westbrook, Beltran belted the 10th
grand slam of his career off another breaking ball.
"The
first couple of innings, (Kennedy) left some balls over the middle of the
plate," said Beltran, who has five homers and 15 RBI during a 10-for-23 run that
has followed a 3-for-32 skid.
Manager
Mike Matheny was confident that Beltran was ready for a breakout, even when he
was in the midst of his slump.
"He's
not a player who's going to panic," Matheny said of Beltran, who has 10 homers
to Albert Pujols' one. "He isn't going to try to reinvent the wheel.
"He's
got a good idea of what he's looking for, and he doesn't try to do too much when
he's got a chance to get it."
NOTES,
QUOTES
GM John Mozeliak traveled
to Memphis on
Tuesday to hand out World Series rings to the players who spent time with the
Cardinals during their championship season last year.
C Yadier Molina was
confident after the game that his left hand, hurt when he was hit by a pitch on
a cross-up from RHP Mitchell Boggs in the ninth inning, was not broken. However,
it still was in the area in which he suffered a broken bone several years ago.
Molina said he was concerned at first but the pain had subsided when he got iced
afterward. "Anytime that happens to a catcher, it's scary," he said. "It's not
fun."
RHP Jake Westbrook fanned
an uncommonly high eight batters, running his pitch count to 115 by the end of
the seventh inning. He was lifted, having given up just four hits and no runs.
"When you see his sinker move that much," manager Mike Matheny said, "you know
they're going to have a hard time getting good wood on
it."
SS Rafael Furcal got a
rare day off, and Daniel Descalso made his first start of the season at the
position. Descalso played well, especially charging in to make plays on a couple
of slow-hit balls. Furcal was rested while riding an eight-game hitting streak
at 14-for-33 (.424).
1B Allen Craig showed no
ill effects from tweaking his surgically repaired knee Monday night, and he
started his third straight game at first base Tuesday. 1B Lance Berkman
(strained left calf) likely will return Friday from the disabled list, which he
has been on for more than three weeks. Manager Mike Matheny said that RF Carlos
Beltran would see some time in center field so as to accommodate getting
Berkman, Craig, Beltran and CF Jon Jay all significant playing
time.
RHP Kyle Lohse will try
to pitch St.
Louis to its first series sweep of the season Wednesday
night. The Cardinals have won the first two games of a three-game series on four
other occasions but have lost the finale each time. Lohse has dropped two
straight starts.
By the
Numbers:
2 - Stolen bases RF
Carlos Belteran needs to join the 300 club for homers and stolen
bases.
Quote to
Note:
"We have a lineup where
anyone in the lineup can hurt the other team."
- RF Carlos Beltran.
MEDICAL
WATCH
C Yadier Molina (bruised
left hand) was hurt May 8. Initial X-rays were negative, but further tests were
planned.
1B Lance Berkman
(strained left calf) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 19.
He had difficulty when he attempted running May 3 but felt much better May 6
after running for about 10 minutes in the outfield. He likely will be activated
May 11.
RHP Scott Linebrink
(right shoulder capsulitis) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to
March 30. He felt tightness during an April 30 bullpen session, and he didn't
appear close to a return.
RHP Chris Carpenter (weak
right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26. He
isn't likely to begin a real throwing program until May and probably won't pitch
until at least June.
Link to boxscore: St. Louis 6, Arizona 1