Apr. 

Apr. 

Rick Ankiel hit a go-ahead RBI double after Daniel Murphy misplayed Brendan Ryan's liner to left field for a triple, and the St. 

With Chris Carpenter out again for an extended period, the St. 

Ryan Franklin might be getting the hang of the closer role. 

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry was finishing up a visit to Des Moines, Iowa, on Monday, where he has been watching the organization?s Class AAA farm club. 

Apr. 

ST. 

Forced by injury and inclement weather to shuffle the rotation,Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan said the plan now is to have four starters stay on their regular turn. 

birdland's best 

TheCardinals may not have reopened camp but they certainly reopened competition within a still-vague bullpen Monday by acquiring relief pitcher Blaine Boyer from the Atlanta Braves for exiled former Rule 5 draftee Brian Barton. 

The St. 

Washington --- Two days after theBraves designated reliever Blaine Boyer for assignment, he got the fresh start theBraves thought he needed, though it required a trip to the airport. 

The Cardinals won eight of their first 13 games, with a striking trend developing. 

Center fielder Rick Ankiel, who hit 22 of his 25 homers in four months last year before he suffered an abdominal strain that finally ended his season, hasn't had nearly the start he had in 2008.