Right-hander Kyle Lohse is among a half-dozen or so deserving pitchers who won't be in the All-Star Game. He never has been on an All-Star team, and he might never be on one.
However, he is 8-2 with a 2.80 ERA after beating Colorado 9-3 on Monday. Lohse, working at least seven innings for a fifth straight game, gave up two runs in 7 1/3 innings.
"He easily could be sitting on 10 wins -- or more," manager Mike Matheny said. "He's been overlooked. He was overlooked all winter, all spring. Everybody talked about our club, but not a lot of people talked about Kyle Lohse."
Lohse, who was not always in Tony La Russa's favor, said he didn't expect to be selected to the All-Star team by his former manager.
Nor, he insisted, did he mind being overlooked.
"I don't strike a lot of guys out," said Lohse. "I don't throw 94, 95 (mph) like I used to. I just go out there and pitch. I'm kind of used to it.
"This is my 12th year, and I could care less what people think about me, besides my teammates and my manager."
Right fielder Carlos Beltran kept his streak alive, driving in a run (he had two RBI) for the ninth successive game. Beltran has a league-leading 63 RBI for the season.
But the real RBI story is that of first baseman Allen Craig. He hit two homers to dead center field, giving him 13 homers on the season. More significant, he has 42 RBI in 40 games.
"More RBI than games played," said an admiring Lohse. "That's kind of a joke. It's unbelievable."
1B Lance Berkman was on the field running before batting practice Monday night, and he has been doing some hitting drills. Berkman, who had right knee surgery May 25, hopes he'll be playing for the Cardinals when the second half the season begins July 13 in Cincinnati. "It wouldn't shock me," he said. "I'm not banking on it, but at the same time, I wouldn't rule it out."
LF Matt Holliday reached base in his first four plate appearances, and his homer and single gave him 28 hits in his last 56 at-bats (.500). "He's as good as anybody in the game right now," manager Mike Matheny said.
1B Allen Craig already has topped his output of last season, when he had 11 homers and 40 RBI. He is at 13 and 42 now after a two-homer night Monday in his 40th game of the season. Manager Mike Matheny says Craig acts like a veteran at the plate. "He makes adjustments well. He's not a guy who seems to have glaring holes. He has a nice swing path, and he generates a lot of power. That's a really dangerous combination," Matheny said.
RF Carlos Beltran has agreed to enter the Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game for the first time. "I have no experience in an event like that, but I guess I'm going to enjoy it," Beltran said of participating in the event next Monday at Kansas City. A switch hitter, Beltran hit 60 homers at Kauffman Stadium while playing for the Royals for 6 1/2 seasons, and then he homered there as a Cardinal on the last trip.
RHP Chris Carpenter, still on the rebound from shoulder weakness, did not throw a bullpen session Monday night, as had been planned, suggesting that there may have been yet another setback. GM John Mozeliak said he would address the matter Tuesday.
5 Runs the Cardinals scored without benefit of a hit Monday in a 9-3 win over Colorado.
"If it hurts, don't do it. If it starts to swell, don't do it." 1B Lance Berkman, on rehabilitating his surgically repaired right knee.
