A 14-3 beginning by their starting pitchers helped propel the Cardinals to a sizeable lead in the National League Central Division after the first month of play. RHP Ryan Franklin's seven-for-seven performance in save opportunities helped and LF Chris Duncan (.312) continued a significant comeback from a herniated disk, which hampered him virtually all last season. The announced goal for OF-turned-2B Skip Schumaker was for him to be "average" at second base. Schumaker seems to achieved at least that.
On April 30, INF Brendan Ryan (left hamstring) was placed on the 15-day disabled list. SS Tyler Greene was recalled from Class AAA Memphis. PLAYER NEWS:
--RHP Brad Thompson, recalled from Class AAA Memphis earlier in the day, worked a scoreless ninth inning Monday. Thompson, with the club earlier, had been starting at Memphis but will relieve for the Cardinals.
--RHP P.J. Walters, 0-0 with a 9.58 earned run average, was sent to Memphis.
--3B Joe Thurston, who had three of the Cardinals' five hits and their only run batted in Monday, is the club's top hitter with men in scoring position at .450 (9-for-20). Thurston, however, over-aggressively ran into an out at home in the third inning, blunting a rally.
--CF Rick Ankiel didn't finish the game after crashing into the wall following his brilliant grab of Pedro Feliz's drive to left center in the eighth inning. Ankiel was taken off the field on a cart, largely for precautionary reasons, and then moved to a local hospital. General manager John Mozeliak reported that Ankiel had feeling in his hands, arms and legs.
--RHP Kyle Lohse, after being hit in his non-pitching elbow by a pitch from Philadelphia's Joe Blanton in the third inning, came unraveled in the next two innings. He allowed a two-run homer by Jayson Werth in the fourth and a grand slam by Ryan Howard in the fifth.
MEDICAL WATCH:
CF Rick Ankiel (head) spent the night in a local hospital after crashing into the wall making a catch May 4. He was day-to-day.
SS Khalil Greene (sore right forearm) didn't start April 29-May 2, though he appeared twice as a pinch hitter.
INF Brendan Ryan (left hamstring strain) went on the 15-day disabled list April 30.
RHP Chris Carpenter (torn left oblique muscle) went on the 15-day disabled list April 15. He is likely out six to eight weeks.
3B Troy Glaus (right shoulder surgery in January 2009) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He didn't heal as quickly as was hoped, and he may not play before July.
LHP Jaime Garcia (Tommy John elbow surgery in September 2008) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He likely will miss all or nearly all of the 2009 season.
ROTATION:
RHP Adam Wainwright
RHP Kyle Lohse
RHP Todd Wellemeyer
RHP Joel Pineiro
RHP Mitchell Boggs
BULLPEN:
RHP Jason Motte (closer)
RHP Ryan Franklin
RHP Kyle McClellan
RHP Chris Perez
LHP Dennys Reyes
LHP Trever Miller
RHP Blaine Boyer
RHP Brad Thompson
CATCHERS:
Yadier Molina
Jason LaRue
INFIELDERS:
1B Albert Pujols
2B Skip Schumaker
SS Khalil Greene
3B Brian Barden
INF Joe Thurston
INF Tyler Greene
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Chris Duncan
CF Rick Ankiel
RF Ryan Ludwick
OF Colby Rasmus
