Right-hander Lance Lynn had allowed two runs or fewer in his first six starts, all of which he won, and one run or none in five of them. He found in his next three starts that it wasn't going to be all that easy but, after giving up three runs in the first inning to San Diego on Wednesday, he performed the classic pitchers' mantra to perfection. He kept his team in the game.
Lynn spun five scoreless innings after the first and the Cardinals caught up in the first inning and passed the Padres in the fifth on right fielder Carlos Beltran's two-run homer that helped them to a 6-3 win and their first three-game series sweep at home this year.
Tied for the major-league lead in wins at seven, Lynn (7-1), said, "From the first pitch, it was a battle all night. You're not always going to have your best stuff. You're not always going to throw the ball where you want to."
But, helped by strong defense, notably by center fielder Skip Schumaker, third baseman David Freese, catcher Yadier Molina and shortstop Rafael Furcal, Lynn endured for 99 pitches and six innings.
"When it looks like he's going to be knocked around a little bit, he turns it up another notch," manager Mike Matheny said of his first-year starter.
The Cardinals have had to disable five players in the last few days but have remained in first place in the National League Central Division ahead of hard-charging Cincinnati.
"We have to fight with what we have," said Beltran. "We're doing a pretty good job."
INF/OF Matt Carpenter became the fifth Cardinal in the last eight days to go on the disabled list. Carpenter suffered a strained right oblique during a first-inning at-bat on Tuesday, which resulted in a double. Right-handed-hitting C-INF Steven Hill was purchased from Class AAA Memphis to replace Carpenter, who was hitting .288 with three homers and 20 runs batted in. Early indications on Tuesday night were that Carpenter's injury might just cause him to miss a few games, but an MRI on Wednesday delivered a different message. Still, Carpenter said of his strain, "The movement I have is not typical of some guys. I'll be able to bounce back quicker." But manager Mike Matheny said, "Unless you're superhuman, I don't know that he's going to heal any faster than anyone else. I've had that injury and it's no fun. I tried to push it and it ended up knocking me back."
1B Lance Berkman, out with torn meniscus in his right knee, has switched his surgery from Vail, Colo., to Houston, where he lives. Berkman will have arthroscopic surgery there on Thursday morning. So far, no ACL damage has been found but the ligament has been stretched. Berkman surely will be out at least two months, if not more.
3B David Freese, after getting two days off following a three-for-34 dive, homered and singled and drove in two runs. Asked if Freese had been all right with the temporary benching, Matheny said, "He didn't an option. I think he knew he needed it."
RF Carlos Beltran, who has had right knee issues, still seems to be moving gingerly in the field but he has continued hitting, cracking his National League-leading 14th homer on Wednesday. "I feel good. It's getting better," said Beltran. Matheny, hoping to play Beltran as much as possible with so many players on the disabled list but not wanting to hurt him further, said, "We've got to let him fight through it. He covers a lot more ground than people think -- although it doesn't always look like he's running at top speed."
INF/C Hill became the third C on the Cardinals' roster as he replaced Carpenter on the club. Not only is Hill versatile enough to play corner infield or outfield, but his presence will allow Matheny to use backup C Tony Cruz more. Cruz can pinch hit or play 1B and the OF himself. Hill was carrying something of a hot bat to earn the promotion, having homered on Sunday and Monday for Memphis.
Staff high number of "holds" for RHP Victor Marte, who wasn't with the club on opening day although he joined the team for the first weekend of the season.
"It's a test. It's a test to your will, a test to your body. Throw the travel on top of it, and it's something you can't prepare for. It's a good reminder for what we're in for the rest of the season." Manager Mike Matheny, on the Cardinals playing 20 games in 20 days and having lost five players to the disabled list in the process.
