ST. LOUIS (AP) - Rookie reliever Jason Motte botched his first chance as the St. Louis Cardinals' closer. Because he threw so many pitches, it was likely he'd have to wait at least a day before getting another shot at making a better impression.
Motte won a three-man competition for the job in spring training. But he allowed four runs in the ninth inning of Pittsburgh's 6-4 opening-day victory Monday. Plus, he threw 29 pitches.So before the second game of a four-game series Tuesday, manager Tony La Russa planned to give the hard-throwing right-hander a day off.
Ryan Franklin, who had 17 saves last year while the Cardinals struggled to find a replacement for Jason Isringhausen, was the likely choice to close Tuesday.
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