Major League Baseball

Cardinals C Laird, 2B Punto leave game

Published Jul. 29, 2011 4:24 a.m. ET

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Tony Cruz became the second Cardinals catcher to leave with an injury Thursday night after a foul ball bounced up and hit his right hand.

St. Louis catcher Gerald Laird and second baseman Nick Punto also left the game against Houston with injuries.

Laird came out in the second inning after hurting his hand sliding into home plate. He has a mild strain of his left ring finger.

He appeared to hook his hand on the foot of Astros catcher Carlos Corporan. Laird, who started a two-run rally in the second with a single, was replaced by Cruz.

Cruz was hurt in the eighth on Chris Johnson's foul ball. He was tended to for several minutes by a trainer and attempted a few throws before coming out of the game.

Yadier Molina, who had been given a rest, replaced Cruz.

Punto was removed after three innings and is day-to-day with a strained muscle on his left side. He appeared to get hurt while grounding back to the pitcher in the third.

Daniel Descalso replaced Punto in the St. Louis lineup.

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