INSIDE PITCH
The Cardinals likely will have to
go the rest of the way in their longshot chase for the playoffs without left
fielder Matt Holliday. An examination Wednesday in St. Louis revealed that he
has an inflamed tendon in the middle finger of his right hand.
"It's a microcosm of our
season," said general manager John Mozeliak. "You keep plugging away."
Holliday will be
re-evaluated next week, said Mozeliak, meaning he will miss at least the key
series in Philadelphia Friday through Monday. Without
Mozeliak saying so, it also is likely that Holliday would miss the rest of the
season, which has just 13 games remaining after the Cardinals' 3-2 victory over
Pittsburgh on
Wednesday.
Holliday, hitting .295
with 22 homers and 74 runs batted in, was injured in a freak accident in the
ninth inning Tuesday night while swinging a bat in the on-deck circle.
Mozeliak said the news
was "sort of worse" than he expected. "It means he's not going to be available
for the weekend," said Mozeliak.
Holliday has had a
strange season, health-wise. He had an emergency appendectomy after the first
game of the season, and he was forced out of a game when a moth flew into his
ear while he was in the field.
Boxscore
NOTES,
QUOTES
SS Rafael Furcal had to
leave Wednesday's game in the fifth inning because of a strained left knee
suffered when he was caught stealing. Furcal was listed by the club as
"day-to-day" but said he could have stayed in the game, if necessary.
3B Daniel Descalso
started ahead of regular David Freese, but manager Tony La Russa called Freese
into his office before the game to let him know that the job was not a timeshare
and that Freese would be back in the lineup Friday at Philadelphia. "I don't
want to be sending him the wrong message," said La Russa. Asked how Freese, who
is 3 for his last 24, received the news, La Russa said, "He's very mature. He
trusts me. That's the most important thing. He knows I tell him the truth, good
or bad. That's why you tell the truth, for times like this."
RHP Mitchell Boggs, who
was the closer for a brief spell this season, hasn't pitched since Sept. 3. "The
problem," said La Russa, "is that the longer it is between appearances, if the
game is close, the tougher it is to use him because we've got other guys."
The preliminary 2012
schedule is out and the Cardinals will open the new ballpark in Miami against the newly
named Miami Marlins on April 4. The home opener is slated for April 13 against
the Chicago Cubs.
RHP Edwin Jackson, LHP
Marc Rzepczynski and RHP Octavio Dotel, all acquired in the same trade from
Toronto (Jackson had been with the Chicago White Sox) on July 27, got the first
24 outs of Wednesday's victory. The trade cost the Cardinals a potential star in
CF Colby Rasmus, but manager Tony La Russa said, "We had a chance to win and we
improved our chance to win. We're not even within smelling distance of where we
are now without Jackson, Dotel and Rzepcyznski."
C Yadier Molina is two
RBI off his career high of 62 after hitting a two-run double Wednesday. Molina
was playing his ninth straight game and 127th of the season out of 149.
BY THE NUMBERS: 1 - Runs
allowed by closer Jason Motte in his last 27 games. It's also how many earned
runs he has given up in his last 39 games.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It will
be interesting to see what his market will be. I think it's going to be a good
one. He's certainly impressed us."
- Manager Tony La Russa
on RHP Edwin Jackson, an impending free agent.
ROSTER
REPORT
MEDICAL
WATCH:
SS Rafael Furcal
(strained left knee) was injured trying to steal second base Sept. 14. He is
day-to-day.
LF Matt Holliday
(inflamed tendon in middle finger of right hand) was injured while he was in the
on-deck circle Sept. 13 and had to leave the game. An examination the next day
revealed the inflammation, and it's questionable whether he will play again this
season.
RHP Lance Lynn (strained left
oblique) went on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 10 and was transferred to the
60-day DL on Sept. 2.
RHP Adam Wainwright
(Tommy John surgery in February 2011) went on the 60-day disabled list March 25.
He will miss the entire 2011 season. Wainwright was getting closer to throwing a
full-strength bullpen session in September, but he will not be allowed to throw
his signature curveball until next year.
NEXT GAME
Thursday,
September 15: DAY OFF
Friday,
September 16 @ PHILLIES: LHP Jaime Garcia (12-7, 3.68) vs. RHP Vance Worley
(11-2, 2.92) 6:05 P.M.
CDT (FOX
Sports Midwest, KMOX Radio and Cardinals Radio
Network).
VIDEO FROM FOXSPORTSMIDWEST.COM
Closer Jason Motte discusses finishing Wednesday’s 3-2 win at Pittsburgh.