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NL Capsules (AP)

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 21:19:21 PDT

Rick Ankiel slapped a two-run, two-out single to right field in the bottom of the ninth inning to cap a three-run rally and lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. The win brought the Cardinals (50-39) to within 2 1/2 games of the first-place Cubs (52-36) in the National League Central.

Ankiel singles in two to lift Cards to 5-4 (AP)

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:07:50 PDT

St. Louis manager Tony La Russa wasn't too optimistic as the Cardinals entered the ninth inning trailing the Chicago Cubs by two runs Saturday afternoon. With Chicago closer Kerry Wood out on the mound to begin the inning, La Russa figured his club was in trouble. "I didn't like our chances," La Russa said.

Cardinals P Reyes activated, optioned to minors (PA SportsTicker)

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 13:08:44 PDT

The St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday activated pitcher Anthony Reyes from the 15-day disabled list and optioned him to Class AAA Memphis.

Cardinals Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:47:55 PDT

Braden Looper gave up just six hits over seven innings Friday, but two of them were solo homers, by Chicago right fielder Kosuke Fukudome and catcher Geovany Soto, as he suffered his sixth loss against nine wins. Looper threw 22 first-pitch strikes out of 28 hitters as he tossed a career-high 120 pitches.

First baseman Albert Pujols' 300th career homer, off the left-field foul pole, brought the Cardinals to one run down in the eighth. But third baseman Troy Glaus, who thought he had walked in the ninth on a 3-1 pitch that seemed outside, according to replays, then was called out on strikes.

Catcher Yadier Molina, who hit safely in his 11th straight game, later singled, but manager Tony La Russa openly was not happy after the game with umpire Ted Barrett's verdict on the...

La Russa questions ump's ball-strike calls (AP)

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:29:36 PDT

St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa criticized home plate umpire Ted Barrett for stretching his strike zone in the ninth inning of a 2-1 loss to the Cubs on Friday night. La Russa said two pitches from Kerry Wood, on 3-1 and 3-2 counts, were questionable while Troy Glaus struck out looking for the first out.

Zambrano leads Cubs to 2-1 win over Cardinals (AP)

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 20:58:53 PDT

The return of Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano trumped the soap opera setting of Jim Edmonds' homecoming and Albert Pujols' 300th home run. Zambrano came off the 15-day disabled list from a shoulder strain with six spotless innings Friday night, leading Chicago to a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a three-game series matching the National League's top two teams.

Edmonds' return to St. Louis stirs up ex-manager (AP)

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:52:31 PDT

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa wasn't exactly overjoyed to see his former star center fielder back in town wearing a Chicago Cubs uniform. Miffed by Jim Edmonds' comments that he was happy to be with the Cubs and tired of talking about his past, La Russa said Friday he'd ignore the four-time All-Star in his first visit as an opposing player.

Pujols becomes fifth-fastest to 300 HRs (AP)

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:38:04 PDT

Albert Pujols hit his 300th career home run Friday night, becoming the fifth-youngest player to reach the milestone. The Cardinals slugger lined his 18th homer of the season on a 2-2 pitch from the Cubs' Bob Howry in the eighth inning, the ball banging off the foul pole in left field. He beat Hall of Famer Mel Ott for the fifth-fastest by one day.

Reyes' big triple keys Mets' rout of Cardinals (AP)

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:10:58 PDT

Mike Pelfrey could get used to this kind of run support. Jose Reyes' bases-clearing triple keyed a six-run third inning that included Pelfrey's first-ever RBI and the New York Mets routed the St. Louis Cardinals 11-1 on Thursday night. The Mets beat the Yankees 15-6 in Pelfrey's last start, he won a 9-6 game last month, and had a 3-0 lead against the Cardinals before throwing one pitch.

Glaus hits winning homer in ninth for Cards (AP)

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:39:31 PDT

With one day left in May, Troy Glaus had a measly two homers. He's been back on his power profile since. Glaus' second homer of the game and 13th of the year with two outs in the ninth was the decisive blow, an inning after pinch-hitter Chris Duncan's two-run shot tied it in the St. Louis Cardinals' 8-7 victory over the New York Mets on Wednesday night.

Wainwright hopes to resume throwing next week (AP)

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:27:30 PDT

The violent motion that produces Adam Wainwright's curveball is responsible for an injury more common to rock climbers clinging to cliffs than pitchers. The St. Louis Cardinals' ace has been sidelined nearly a month waiting for a ruptured tendon in the middle finger of his right hand to heal, and is unlikely to return until after the All-Star break.

Armas wins season debut as Mets down Cardinals 7-4 (AP)

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:10:58 PDT

Tony Armas showed the New York Mets enough that they should consider keeping him around, and backup catcher Ramon Castro made his bid for more playing time. Armas won his season debut after a minor league callup and Castro, the eighth-place hitter, had two hits and three RBIs in a 7-4 victory over the St.

Cardinals agree to deal with top draft pick (AP)

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:25:27 PDT

Brett Wallace homered twice in his first handful of batting-practice cuts, hardly resembling a nervous prospect. The former Arizona State infielder, selected with the 13th pick of the first round last month, agreed to a contract Tuesday for a signing bonus of about $1.84 million. He said the experience at Busch Stadium was daunting before Cardinals players talked away his jitters.

Cardinals sign top pick Wallace (PA SportsTicker)

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:02:39 PDT

The St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday announced the signing of their top draft pick, third baseman Brett Wallace.

Pass out the midterm report cards (Yahoo! Sports)

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:55:00 PDT

We don't grade on a curve, and that's why only the Rays get an A-plus while three teams are given Fs.

Mulder finishes rather than starts in season debut (AP)

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:54:06 PDT

Three years ago, Mark Mulder was one of baseball's best pitchers. Two shoulder operations later, he's just happy to be back on the mound. The St. Louis Cardinals' 30-year-old left-hander made his first career relief appearance in his season debut Monday night, working a scoreless ninth inning in a 7-1 victory over the New York Mets.

Lohse shackles Mets in Cardinals' 7-1 victory (AP)

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:14:21 PDT

Several New York Mets hitters came in with gaudy career numbers against Kyle Lohse. They did next to nothing against the St. Louis Cardinals' resurgent right-hander. Lohse, who allowed an unearned run in seven innings of the Cardinals' 7-1 victory on Monday night, showed them he is not the same guy who entered the year 11 games below .500 for his career and had to wait until mid-March for a free...

Cardinals recall Thompson, demote Stavinoha (AP)

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:45:24 PDT

The St. Louis Cardinals recalled right-hander Brad Thompson from Triple-A Memphis on Monday, adding another arm to a beleaguered bullpen. Cardinals relievers were 10-18 with a 4.25 ERA and 18 blown saves in 43 chances entering a four-game series against the Mets on Monday night. They'll carry 13 pitchers and 12 position players for the foreseeable future.

Cardinals recall RHP Thompson (PA SportsTicker)

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:04:39 PDT

The St. Louis Cardinals on Monday recalled righthander Brad Thompson from Class AAA Memphis and optioned outfielder Nick Stavinoha.

Pujols is a faith healer (Yahoo! Sports)

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:14:00 PDT

Cardinals' superstar returns from an injury ahead of schedule, credits God and crushes the ball.

LaRue drives in four runs in St. Louis win over KC (AP)

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 16:43:52 PDT

The sun, the wind, and Jason LaRue's stocky body proved too much for Kansas City to overcome. The backup catcher started his day by holding onto the ball in the first inning when David DeJesus came crashing into him trying to score. DeJesus, leading the majors with a .463 average with runners in scoring position, had to leave the game.

Cardinals beat Royals 5-1, end KC's winning streak (AP)

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 20:11:08 PDT

The deeper he gets into his first big league season, the better Mitchell Boggs seems to pitch. Working his way out of some tough spots early, the rookie right-hander went six innings Saturday night, allowing four hits and one run and leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-1 victory over a Kansas City team that had won 11 of 12.

Royals beat Cardinals for sixth straight win (AP)

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:15:05 PDT

So how can the same bunch of guys who lose 12 in a row in May turn around and win 11 of 12 in June? Simple. "We weren't hitting and we weren't pitching at the same time," said right-hander Gil Meche, who went seven strong innings Friday night in a 7-2 victory over St. Louis. "Both parts of our game went downhill.

Cardinals activate LHP Mulder (PA SportsTicker)

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:59:35 PDT

Prior to Friday's game against the Kansas City Royals, the St. Louis

Pujols collects four hits in return (PA SportsTicker)

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:12:35 PDT

Albert Pujols did not look like a player who had been sidelined for the past two weeks.

Thomas' bases-loaded walk in 10th lifts Tigers (AP)

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:54:21 PDT

Albert Pujols' triumphant return was spoiled by a rookie. Clete Thomas drew a bases-loaded walk in the 10th inning to give the Detroit Tigers a 3-2 win Thursday over St. Louis, ruining Pujols' return from injury for the Cardinals. St. Louis reliever Mike Parisi (0-4) gave up a leadoff single to Curtis Granderson and intentionally walked Carlos Guillen and Miguel Cabrera before Thomas drew his second...

Pujols returns to Cardinals lineup (AP)

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:44:31 PDT

The St. Louis Cardinals activated first baseman Albert Pujols on Thursday and placed reliever Randy Flores on the 15-day disabled list with left ankle tendinitis. Manager Tony La Russa used Pujols, who's been out of the lineup since June 11 with a strained calf, as the designated hitter Thursday against Detroit to help ease his return to the lineup.

Sheffield's single gives Tigers 8-7 win over Cards (AP)

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:18:48 PDT

Gary Sheffield made a long wait worthwhile for the Detroit Tigers. Sheffield hit a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to give Detroit an 8-7 win against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night in a game that included a nearly 2 1/2 -hour rain delay. Sheffield, who came off the disabled list Tuesday and homered, and Carlos Guillen each had four hits for Detroit.

Cardinals beat Tigers in rematch of 2006 World Series (AP)

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:33:14 PDT

The St. Louis Cardinals got hits from eight players and RBIs from five. Not bad for a lineup missing Albert Pujols. Brian Barton, Skip Schumaker and Brendan Ryan each drove in two runs, leading St. Louis to an 8-4 win over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night. "We're stronger with Albert, no doubt, but we're showing we're pretty good without him," Barton said.

Scioscia is guardian of the Angels (Yahoo! Sports)

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:39:00 PDT

Manager oversees his ballclub with fairness and consistency, yet he knows that each player requires a different touch.