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Cardinals Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Wed, 14 May 2008 03:55:01 PDT

Teams going in opposite directions from where you usually see them: The Pittsburgh Pirates, who have had 15 consecutive losing seasons, have won seven of their last eight, and the Cardinals, perennial contenders, have lost six of their last seven.

The Pirates roughed up left-hander Ron Villone for four runs in the 10th inning Tuesday, but the Cardinals let the game get away in the ninth when they loaded the bases on three walks, one intentional, before hot-hitting Ryan Ludwick flied out.

Manager Tony La Russa didn't fault Ludwick for swinging at the first pitch from rookie Marino Salas, even though Salas, making his big-league debut, had walked three. "In the big leagues, if you get that first good pitch, it might be the last one you see," La Russa said.

Ludwick...

Baseball Today (AP)

Wed, 14 May 2008 02:37:00 PDT

Pirates score 4 in 10th to beat Cardinals 8-4 (AP)

Tue, 13 May 2008 22:37:47 PDT

Ronny Paulino was ready when Pittsburgh catcher Ryan Doumit broke his left thumb. It helped that the Pirates were facing the St. Louis Cardinals. Paulino singled in the go-ahead run in a four-run 10th inning for his second crucial hit in an 8-4 victory over the Cardinals on Tuesday night. "He's taken advantage of his opportunities," manager John Russell said.

Reliever to undergo arthroscopic shoulder surgery (AP)

Tue, 13 May 2008 17:16:58 PDT

St. Louis Cardinals left-handed reliever Tyler Johnson, sidelined since spring training by a shoulder injury, will undergo arthroscopic surgery Wednesday. The 26-year-old Johnson was 1-1 with a 4.03 ERA in 2007, his first full season in the majors. He was part of a surprisingly effective bullpen minus injured closer Jason Isringhausen in the Cardinals' World Series run in 2006.

Cardinals LHP Johnson to have surgery (PA SportsTicker)

Tue, 13 May 2008 17:05:18 PDT

St. Louis Cardinals lefthander Tyler Johnson will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his throwing shoulder, the team announced on Tuesday.

Molina tantrum fallout worries Cardinals (AP)

Tue, 13 May 2008 16:55:20 PDT

The St. Louis Cardinals are expecting Yadier Molina to be disciplined for his antics. After the catcher was ejected for complaining about a ball called on Milwaukee's Corey Hart during the fifth inning of an 8-3 loss Monday night, Molina protested by taking off his gear and leaving it in a pile at the feet of plate umpire Paul Schrieber.

Braun homers twice again as Brewers beat Cards (AP)

Mon, 12 May 2008 21:35:43 PDT

The St. Louis Cardinals have seen just about enough of Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun over the past two days. Catcher Yadier Molina and manager Tony La Russa managed to see a few innings less of him than everyone else Monday night. Braun hit two home runs for the second game in a row, and Molina and La Russa were ejected for arguing balls and strikes shortly after the second of Braun's two...

Cardinals' Molina, La Russa ejected (PA SportsTicker)

Mon, 12 May 2008 18:44:23 PDT

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina and manager Tony La Russa were ejected in the fifth inning of Monday's contest against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Baseball Power Poll: Florida teams surge into top 5 (SportingNews.com)

Mon, 12 May 2008 09:56:26 PDT

Every week Sean Deveney looks at the action and ranks all the teams as he sees them.

Braun hits 2 HRs, Brewers hold on for 5-3 win (AP)

Sun, 11 May 2008 15:53:34 PDT

The ninth inning for the Milwaukee Brewers' new closer by committee was as adventurous as some of Eric Gagne's recent outings. There was one difference, though: the Brewers held on for the win. With Gagne yanked from the closer's role Sunday after faltering in back-to-back outings, relievers Salomon Torres and Brian Shouse helped make Jeff Suppan's seven solid innings stand up by holding on for a...

Isringhausen pulled from closer's role (PA SportsTicker)

Sat, 10 May 2008 20:13:15 PDT

Jason Isringhausen is being relieved of his closing duties.

Ryan Ludwick's 2-run single lifts Cards past Brewers 5-3 (AP)

Sat, 10 May 2008 17:38:05 PDT

Eric Gagne no longer wants to be called the Brewers' closer. He's pitching his way out of that role, anyway. The former NL Cy Young Award winner gave up a two-run single with two outs in the ninth inning to Ryan Ludwick, and St. Louis held on for a 5-3 victory over Milwaukee on Saturday that snapped a season-long three-game skid.

Cardinals yank Jason Isringhausen from closer's role (AP)

Sat, 10 May 2008 11:26:16 PDT

Jason Isringhausen got his wish. After blowing his major league leading fifth save on Friday night in a 4-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, the Cardinals' embattled reliever will no longer close games, manager Tony La Russa said Saturday. "He's still prepared to pitch important innings, but for a while we'll try to keep him out of the ninth inning," La Russa said.

Weeks' 2-run single wins it for Brewers, 4-3 (AP)

Fri, 09 May 2008 21:22:15 PDT

The Brewers were a pitch away from another miserable loss. Then Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen started throwing like a second-grader again. After getting two outs on two pitches, Isringhausen imploded, allowing two singles and a walk before Rickie Weeks' two-run single gave Milwaukee a 4-3 victory on Friday night and snapped the Brewers' six-game losing streak.

Cardinals 3B Glaus leaves game with bruised left triceps (AP)

Fri, 09 May 2008 18:17:02 PDT

St. Louis third baseman Troy Glaus left Friday night's game against the Milwaukee Brewers with a bruised left triceps after the Cardinals batted in the third inning. Glaus was hit by Manny Parra's 0-2 fastball to lead off the second inning, but remained in the game. He struck out in the third. Brendan Ryan replaced Glaus, who is hitting .223 with one homer and 21 RBIs.

A's GM Billy Bean is best at selling high (SportingNews.com)

Fri, 09 May 2008 10:46:31 PDT

Oakland seems to have a knack for letting its superstar pitchers go at exactly the right time ... or maybe it's by design.

Rockies' De La Rosa goes 5 2-3 innings to pick up win (AP)

Thu, 08 May 2008 16:53:28 PDT

Rockies manager Clint Hurdle has been pleading with his team to play more relaxed. With the losses piling up, though, relaxed was the last thing the players felt. But the reigning NL champs are walking around with a little more pep after beating the St. Louis Cardinals for a second straight time, a 9-3 win Thursday to salvage a split in their four-game series.

With Ankiel in center, Cardinals in middle of it (SportingNews.com)

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:26:27 PDT

Rick Ankiel's story is not new news, but it's still remarkable news. And it's a major part of why the Cardinals are leading the NL Central.

With Ankiel in the outfield the Cardinals are in contention (SportingNews.com)

Thu, 08 May 2008 08:15:57 PDT

Rick Ankiel's story is not new news, but it's still remarkable news. And it's a major part of why the Cardinals are leading the NL Central.

At the Letters: Complete coverage on CG's (Yahoo! Sports)

Wed, 07 May 2008 22:34:00 PDT

Readers expound on pitch counts, outer-space endeavors and hot pitchers … and a Cards fan comes back for more.

Rockies rally past Cardinals (AP)

Wed, 07 May 2008 21:52:16 PDT

The Rocktober magic returned to Coors Field at least for a night. Chris Iannetta tripled home two runs off Jason Isringhausen to cap a four-run eighth-inning rally and carry the slumping Colorado Rockies past the stunned St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 on Wednesday night. After managing just four hits off Adam Wainwright in seven innings, the downtrodden defenders of the NL pennant rallied against St.

Mark Mulder has rotator cuff strain (AP)

Wed, 07 May 2008 15:48:17 PDT

Cardinals starter Mark Mulder has a mild rotator cuff strain in his left shoulder, causing St. Louis to stop his injury rehabilitation assignment. Mulder, coming back from two shoulder operations, was evaluated Wednesday in St. Louis by team physician Dr. George Paletta. The Cardinals plan to rest Mulder for a week to 10 days before reevaluating him.

Mulder diagnosed with rotator cuff strain (PA SportsTicker)

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:48:53 PDT

Mark Mulder's road back to the St. Louis Cardinals has apparently hit a detour.

Looper turns in longest outing of career (AP)

Tue, 06 May 2008 22:04:44 PDT

Rick Ankiel was throwing strikes again. Only this time it wasn't from the mound, but from deep center. Ankiel threw out two runners at third and Braden Looper pitched into the ninth inning in the longest outing of his career, helping the St. Louis Cardinals hold on for a 6-5 win over the slumping Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night.

Pujols scores decisive run for Cardinals in win over Rockies (AP)

Mon, 05 May 2008 22:26:38 PDT

Albert Pujols usually wins games with his power, not his wheels. A hustling Pujols scored from second base on a groundout in the ninth inning, lifting the St. Louis Cardinals to a 6-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Monday night. "I didn't know he was that fast," St. Louis starting pitcher Joel Pineiro said.

Baseball Power Poll: D-backs tops even before Scherzer (SportingNews.com)

Mon, 05 May 2008 09:26:26 PDT

The Diamondbacks already have Brandon Webb, Dan Haren, Randy Johnson and Micah Owings in their rotation. Add in phenom Max Scherzer and it's not hard to see why they are No. 1.

Struggling reliever demoted to minors (AP)

Sun, 04 May 2008 21:19:15 PDT

Anthony Reyes was demoted to the minor leagues by the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday after sputtering in a relief role with a 5.27 ERA. The 26-year-old Reyes, once considered the team's top pitching prospect, will be a starter for Triple-A Memphis. But manager Tony La Russa believes the infrequency of Reyes' outings has more to do with his struggles than comfort level or a lack of enthusiasm for the...

Pujols helps Cards beat Cubs 5-3 (AP)

Sun, 04 May 2008 21:09:55 PDT

Two days after Jason Isringhausen left to merciless boos from the home crowd, he walked off the mound in triumph. Shaking off recent woes that left him wondering for a time whether to ditch his favored cut fastball, the St. Louis Cardinals' closer needed only 12 pitches to retire the top of the Chicago Cubs' order, putting the finishing touch on a 5-3 victory on Sunday night.

Cards option RHP Reyes to minors (PA SportsTicker)

Sun, 04 May 2008 13:23:19 PDT

The St. Louis Cardinals optioned struggling pitcher Anthony Reyes to Class AAA Memphis prior to Sunday's game against the Chicago Cubs.

Cubs' offense backs Lilly in 9-3 victory over Cardinals (AP)

Sat, 03 May 2008 17:26:36 PDT

The top offense in the major leagues surfaced again on Saturday. Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella only asks that his team try to minimize the lows. Mike Fontenot hit a three-run homer and had a career-best four RBIs, leading Chicago to a 9-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Geovany Soto added a two-run double in a four-run sixth for the Cubs, who finished with 12 hits and are averaging six runs...