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Home , Alfonso Soriano, Daniel Descalso, Doug Davis (pitcher), Geovany Soto, Jim Hendry, John Mozeliak

May 11, 2011

Tribune Pujols takes center stage in Cardinals' 6-4 victory Speculation abounds about future home as slugger goes 4-for-5 against Cubs By: Paul Sullivan

On the first pleasant night for at , everyone was feeling a little giddy.

The locals booed one former Cub lustily, while one current Cub was greeted with mock cheers when he managed to catch a routine fly.

But the biggest feel-good moment of the night occurred behind the batting cage before before the Cardinals' 6-4 victory when slugger wrapped his big arms around Cubs general manager in a photogenic bear hug.

Was Pujols, who went 4-for-5 on the night, starting the negotiating process, or just saying hello to an old friend?

Six months remain before Pujols can become a free-agent, but "the hug" was interpreted by some as a sign the Cubs will be courting the star in November.

Hendry took pains to point out he and Pujols were just exchanging pleasantries, not dollar figures. Tampering rules prohibit the Cubs from talking about players on other teams.

But hugging the opposition?

"Well, he hugged me first," Hendry said with a laugh. "He's a lot bigger and stronger than me."

Peppered with questions about "the hug," Hendry pointed out he hugged former Cub — the object of fans' derision — twice before the game.

"I can't win," Hendry said. "I like Albert. We've always gotten along. He's a great, great player. I admire the heck out of him. He plays the game the right way every day."

On the field, was hurt by a poor defensive effort, including three misplays by , a dropped ball by that allowed a to score and 's failure to cut off throws.

"When you're playing at this level, you need to make the plays," manager Mike Quade said.

The Cubs bounced back from a 4-2 deficit, tying it in the seventh on Castro's RBI single. But the Cardinals won it on 's two-out, two-run, bases-loaded single off in the eighth.

"It (stinks) losing, no question," Wood said. "But it's tougher when your team comes back and has a rally and scores two and ties the game, and the next half-inning you give it right back up."

Geovany Soto left with a groin strain and will have an MRI on Wednesday. -A Iowa may be up Wednesday to take his place.

The Cubs are 6-11 in their last 17 games, with seven of those losses by one or two runs. Does losing so many close games like that have a cumulative effect on the team?

"I don't know," Zambrano said. "My job is to pitch."

Carpenter scattered 13 singles over seven innings for his first win. Will the Cubs power hitters ever start hitting for power?

"I'm not the hitting ," Zambrano said. "My job is to pitch. They pay me to win games."

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Tribune Theriot tries to tamp down reaction to remarks Former Cub says it's 'dumb' to take his take on fans or rivalry with Cardinals too seriously By: Dave van Dyck

Ryan Theriot wasn't sure which was more ridiculous, Cubs fans being upset or Cardinals fans being upset. Apparently he has become an equal opportunity upsetter, putting his foot in both sides of his mouth.

Before this week's series began Tuesday night, Theriot sat in the visitor's dugout wearing formerly taboo Cardinals red and trying to explain himself to Chicago and St. Louis media.

"A thousand percent too much is made of it," he told the Chicagoans about winter comments about being on the right side of the rivalry now. "… I think it's really dumb. C'mon, it's like who do you love more, your mom or your dad? It's extremely blown out of proportion."

And this to St. Louis media: "I like jean shorts. What's wrong with tank tops?"

That was in response to a blog on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch website with the headline: "Another error for Theriot?"

Columnist Bernie Miklasz took Theriot to task for joining the fun on WMVP-AM 1000 when the hosts characterized Cardinals fans as wearing tank tops and cuff jean shorts, with Theriot chipping in: "Tank tops, jean shorts and some Timberland boots."

Wrote Miklasz: "Wow, dude. Taking shots at Cardinals fans? … And should Theriot be talking about boots, given all of the ground balls he has kicked around (eight errors)? Sheesh."

So mild-mannered, usually-under-the-radar Ryan Theriot apparently has tossed more fuel on the age-old rivalry. Or maybe it was the rivalry that made either of his comments a big deal in the first place. Is he really stirring things up all by his little self?

"No, not at all," he said. "I don't want to be the straw that stirs anything. I just want to go out there and win. … Apparently it's a lot bigger deal than I thought."

We think he was talking about the "right side of the rivalry" comments there, although it applies to either one.

So exactly what is the "right side?"

"I was a Cubbie, now I'm a Cardinal. What do you want me to say?" he asked. "I guess there's no real right or wrong answer, but now I'm a Cardinal and I stand by what I said.

"It's the right side of the rivalry for me now. You can't say you wish you were on the other side, that's not right."

As for comments during the Cubs Convention, including those by ex-teammate Koyie Hill about throwing at Theriot during games, he said:

"I know how the Cubs Convention is. They get excited and the fans are there. It is what it is. I talked to (Hill). I don't even remember the conversation."

By now, there are several conversations Theriot he would like to forget. Cub fans booed his return Tuesday. He won't taste St. Louis reaction until Monday.

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Tribune Colvin's deep slump could end in Triple A can't get needed at-bats with Cubs as long as others are hitting well By: Paul Sullivan

The Cubs have no timetable on how long Tyler Colvin will get to turn his season around before they decide to bite the bullet and send him to Triple-A Iowa for more playing time.

But general manager Jim Hendry conceded Colvin was in a " whammy" situation where he needs at-bats but is not hitting well enough to earn regular starts.

Colvin was on the bench at the start of Tuesday's game with a .121 average in only 58 at-bats. Manager Mike Quade has stuck with the outfield of Alfonso Soriano, Marlon Byrd and , and Carlos Pena has started most games at first.

"It's a tough call," Hendry said. "… All of us think he's going to down the road. (But) he didn't have nearly the spring he did last year and let's give the other guys their due. Fook is playing really well, Sori has 11 home runs, Marlon has been steady in center.

"We're trying to get Pena going. … It's that age-old scenario. You would like to get him more at-bats to see if he can get going, but when he's in there, he's not swinging well enough to take the other guys' at- bats away. So it's a double whammy. … He's in a little rut. He's not swinging well and the other guys are."

Colvin was in a similar situation last season at this time, but he was hitting much better and going to the minors was not an option. He wound up hitting .254 in 358 at-bats with 20 home runs, fourth all-time on the Cubs' rookie list.

"The only thing different is that going into this spring I felt like I had a spot on the team," Colvin said. "What my role was going to be was still up in the air because we have the same () here. But they're all hitting so you can't get too upset. … I'd be lying if I said I went up there every time like 'Oh, just relax.' There have been a couple of at-bats coming off the bench where I want to hit that first pitch. You can't go about it like that."

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Tribune Cubs' 5th starter for Saturday a mystery Signs point to Davis getting nod if he's called up from minors as expected By: Paul Sullivan

The Cubs' plans for their fifth starter Saturday against the Giants remain a mystery for now.

Veteran left-hander Doug Davis, who started Tuesday for Triple-A Iowa against Colorado Springs, is expected to be called up soon. But he would be pitching on three days' rest if called up Saturday.

Davis was removed after two outs in the fourth inning against Colorado Springs, throwing only 59 pitches. He allowed two runs on four hits with five and no walks. Davis threw 6 2/3 shutout innings for Class A Daytona on Thursday in his first minor league start.

Rehabbing starters Randy Wells and each threw two innings of live batting practice Tuesday at the Cubs' facility in Mesa, Ariz. Wells is expected to throw an extended game Thursday and figures to begin his minor league rehab stint sooner than Cashner.

La Russa watch: Cardinals bench coach Joe Pettini took over for on Tuesday after the Cardinals manager was diagnosed with shingles at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

"You never see Tony not full bore," Pettini said. "He has been in agony, and we're very concerned."

La Russa still made out the lineup and , which he relayed to Pettini during a phone call. Pettini said the game would be run via "manager by committee" of all the Cardinals' coaches.

"Given his tenure and what he has done for baseball, he has a voice in that," general manager John Mozeliak said. "But (everyone) will do what's best for him and the organization. He has done an amazing job, but it's certainly not the same Tony we've been around for years. He has had to remove himself at times."

The Cardinals announced after the game that La Russa will miss entire 6-game trip, which ends Sunday in Cincinnati.

Extra innings: Catcher left Tuesday night's game in the first inning with a strained left groin. … Starlin Castro was dropped to the No. 7 spot in the batting order because of his recent slump. Manager Mike Quade said the slump had "absolutely nothing" to do with Castro's move to No. 3 in the batting order from leadoff but more to do with plate discipline. "It was the right thing to do at the time," Quade said.

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Tribune Paul Sullivan's Cubs mailbag By: Paul Sullivan

Fukudome's annual drop-off, Hendry's future, Quade's managing, the loss of Rothschild and Saturday night home games are some of the topics in this week's Ask Paul. What is the main reason the Cubs are so anemic with runners in scoring position? Are they overanxious like Jeff Baker was in hitting into a to end the Arizona series? Are they not taking advantage of hitter's counts? Friday 5-4 loss to the Reds may have been the season's low point this far, but this has been a long-term problem. For a team with very little team speed that makes base running mistakes and can't seem to bunt runners over, they have no chance to be competitive if they can't hit with RISP. Joe B, Oxford, Conn.

The Cubs come into the Cardinals series hitting .213 with runners in scoring position, second worst in the

NL to San Diego's .186 and nearly .100 points behind St. Louis' .307 average in that category, second in the league to Atlanta (.324). I agree they can not be competitive with that lineup hitting so poorly in clutch situations. I don't have the answer, but they are paying Rudy Jaramillo to figure it out, and he's considered one of the top hitting coaches in the baseball, so he needs to figure it out quickly or else the season will be over by the All-Star break.

Since Kosuke Fukudome always hits his best in April after a few months of off-season time and then slides every month thereafter, why not send him home and bring him back in mid August like it's the start of another season? That way we would have a .400 hitter for two plus months of the season and we wouldn't be subjected to his annual spin-o-rama strikeouts from May-July. John, Alpharetta, Ga.

Fukudome is hitting .278 so far in May, which isn't terrible, so let's give him a chance before piling on again. With a .359 average and .468 OBP, he's one of the few Cubs players who seems to have improved since last season. If he goes back in the tank as he has in the past, then it's fair to start criticizing.

Paul, I've been a staunch Jim Hendry supporter for years, but I am officially off the bandwagon. I submit: 1) the disrespectful manner in which Ryne Sandberg was informed of the decision to pass him over for Mike Quade. 2) His blind propensity to look for lightning in a bottle with struggling players, now disastrously evident in the $10 million deal to Carlos Pena. 3) The fact that there was apparently NO backup plan in case of injury to the starting . James Russell? Seriously, Jim? Paul, can you defend Jim Hendry at all any more? Shel Khipple, Wilmette, Ill.

I'm not sure of the "disrespectful manner" you speak of in the Sandberg decision, who was told he didn't get the job like any other losing candidate. But obviously the Pena signing doesn't look good so far, and the Russell experiment was certainly a mistake that didn't have to happen if there was a starter ready in the minors to take the fifth spot. Signing Doug Davis and Ramon Ortiz suggests they were flying blind. Judging from the e-mails I get, there are not many Hendry backers still in the fold, at least outside of FoxSports.com, and the back-to-back division titles seem like eons ago. This is likely to be a do-or-die season for Hendry, who has a contract through 2012. Despite the first-year success of Starlin Castro and the emergence of Darwin Barney, Hendry and the Cubs are not off to an impressive start.

Considering the poor performance of Cubs pitching so far this season, especially by Dempster, is it too early to be missing ? What did he have that Riggins clearly doesn't? Darryl Delott, Greenville, SC

I don't know if losing Rothschild was the reason for the Cubs' disappointing start. The seems to be doing well, and Zambrano and Garza are pitching much better. Dempster's April problems were confounding, but to pin them on Riggins seems a little much.

Why does there continue to be a double standard with some Cub players who don't hustle? When Marlon Byrd and Carlos Zambrano are the only two players who manage to run hard to first base on a daily basis, why does management not demand that from all players or else they don't play? It really is a joke with the millions players are making that they can't at least hustle. Teri, Neenah, Wis.

Byrd and Zambrano are not the only two players who run hard to first base on a daily basis, though the Alfonso Soriano baserunning gaffe in Los Angeles last week may be what you are referring to. Quade said he addressed it with Soriano, so we'll have to wait and see if he jogs out of the box again, and what Quade will do if the problem crops up again.

We like your honesty with the mailbag, so here is our question: My wife and I were wondering why the Cubs have Mike Quade (Semi-Rookie Manager) and Mark Riggins (Spent last 3 years in the minors) as manager/coach tandem in a year where you really need some recent major league experience to overcome all the problems facing the Cubs? Renji George,

Lisle, Ill.

No one had more major league experience than the tandem of and Rothschild, and that didn't work out so well last year, either. I believe people are putting too much of the early season blame on Quade and Riggins and not enough on the players who are paid handsomely to perform. I don't agree with every decision Quade makes, but certainly he isn't the reason they aren't hitting with runners in scoring position. If you want to blame the Russell experiment on him, that's fair, though Hendry was more the decision-maker on that since he didn't have any minor league starter ready to go after it was apparent that Russell is a reliever and not a starter.

Why doesn't Tyler Colvin get to play? Are Soriano, Fukudome, and Pena all better than he is? Isn't he supposed to be part of the future? Do you agree with him not playing? Paul Siekert, Carlisle, Pa.

Colvin is hitting .121 and is 0-for-15 with runners in scoring position, so there's your answer. He should probably go to Iowa to get some at-bats, considering he didn't have a very good spring training either.

Hi, Paul, I see on Saturday May 14, the are scheduled to play a Saturday night game at 6:05 P.M. on FOX, against the . But I thought when they got lights at Wrigley Field, they made a deal with the City of Chicago, that didn't allow them to play home night games at Wrigley Field on Friday and Saturday nights. Is the City of Chicago really allowing this to happen, and why are they letting this happen? Stephen Verhaeren, Palos Park, Ill.

The Cubs are allowed to play Saturday night games, if the national TV schedule calls for it, which it has in this case. Personally, I'm in favor of Friday and Saturday night games, (and I also think they should not even start the night game schedule until May when the weather starts getting warmer-- theoretically, at least.) The neighborhood has changed since lights were installed in 1988, and it can handle a few weekend night games without the world coming to an end.

Should Cub fans have mixed emotions over Carlos Pena's struggles? We want him to do well (nice guy, need his bat) however with the one-year contract should we be looking for that big free agent at the end of the rainbow? Dale, Charleston, Ill.

Cubs fans should have no mixed emotions over Carlos Pena's struggles, since the reason he got $10 million was to hit home runs and drive in runs. He hasn't been able to do that for whatever reason, though his bat appears to be thawing out a little in the last week. As Quade likes to say: "We'll see."

How many e-mails did you get immediately following the Garza from people unhappy Fuld was included in the deal? Not many, if any, I'm guessing. I'm all for it if you put a moratorium on questions related to . John, Chicago, Ill.

You are correct. I got zero e-mails about losing Fuld in the Garza trade, but plenty on losing the four top prospects-- Archer, Guyer, Chrinos and Lee. It's way too early to judge this trade, but Fuld is down to .248 on Monday after his hot start with Tampa Bay, along with a .307 OBP. Garza is 1-4 with a 4.43 ERA, but leads the league in strikeouts per 9 innings (11.7). Not saying that Fuld is a bust or Garza is going to dominate in the NL, but making knee-jerk reactions on a trade one month into the season is never a wise thing.

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Sun-Times Hendry-Pujols hug causes stir before Cubs loss to Cardinals BY: GORDON WITTENMYER

Nearly six weeks into this thing, and the answer to all the Cubs’ clutch-hitting and singles-hitting problems finally reared up for all to see at Wrigley Field.

And then he gave general manager Jim Hendry a big hug.

If Albert Pujols were a snake, instead of merely a pending free agent, he might have bitten the Cubs on the behind — and then a few hours later he did anyway when he led off the eighth with his third of four hits Tuesday night and scored the go-ahead run in the St. Louis Cardinals’ 6-4 win over the Cubs.

But it was that hug, and subsequent handshake with Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts, near the batting cage before the game that figured to most capture the attention of North Side baseball fans — a moment made for YouTube, Twitpic or Dimwit, depending on your speculation vehicle of choice.

‘‘We’ve been friends for a long time. I’m not going to treat Albert any different [now], and same with him,’’ said Hendry, laughing at the instant Chicago and St. Louis media attention he got for the hug and brief conversation. ‘‘We don’t talk about what’s going to happen. It’s always the same thing: ‘How’s your son?’ ‘How’s your kid?’ ’’

‘‘I’m a little different. I’ve always gotten along with players.’’

He doesn’t always hug them.

‘‘He hugged me first,’’ Hendry said, smiling. ‘‘[And he’s a lot bigger and stronger than I am.’’

So inquiring minds draw another blank. What else is new?

That doesn’t mean the Albert-to-Chicago speculation — daydreaming? — will disappear anytime soon.

Not with 14 more games between these rivals this season. Not after watching a 13-hit attack against Cardinals ace fail to produce so much as an extra-base hit as the Cubs fell to 1-3 during this measuring-stick homestand.

Not with as much as $45 million falling off the Cubs’ payroll books at the end of the season.

And not as long as the three-time MVP continues unsigned through his lame-duck season while the Cubs thirst for a middle-of-the-order monster they haven’t had since was competing for MVPs.

Asked before the game what level of importance he placed on this series against first-place St. Louis, Cubs manager Mike Quade said, ‘‘I can’t put a on it, but it’ll be another way for us to measure where we’re at.

‘‘It’s more important to me to find out where we’re at with ourselves, particularly, when it comes to the offense. This is a pretty good [weather] day to see if we can’t do that. As it warms up, I expect the bats to do a better job. We’ll find out.’’

Maybe today or Thursday. Not Tuesday, when Pujols alone hit for as many total bases as the Cubs’ 3-4-5 hitters combined.

Of course, success at Wrigley is nothing new to Pujols, whose home runs (25) and RBI (64) here are exceeded among road ballparks only by those at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park.

On this night, Pujols may even have overshadowed the marquee pitching matchup of Carlos Zambrano and Carpenter — especially after 11 hitters reached base in the first inning.

Pujols stuck by his preseason vow of not talking about his contract status or looming free agency when asked about it Tuesday. And the consensus opinion in the game seems to be that Pujols — who entered Tuesday hitting just .248 but with seven homers — eventually will re-sign with the only team he has known.

But not everybody seems so sure. And, clearly, the relationship exists as a starting point if the Cardinals don’t lock up Pujols before next fall.

‘‘I never thought I’d leave Chicago, either,’’ Cards Ryan Theriot, the former Cub, said. ‘‘It’s a business. Things happen. You see guys go and play for their rival team all the time.’’

Maybe just one more time, as far as the Cubs are concerned.

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Sun-Times Groin pain may put Geovany Soto on DL By: Gordon Wittenmyer

The Cubs’ efforts to get their season on track took another hit Tuesday night when catcher Geovany Soto strained his groin blocking a pitch in the dirt in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Soto is scheduled for an MRI this morning and could be headed to the disabled list. Class AAA catcher Welington Castillo, who made his major-league debut last season, was pulled from AAA Iowa’s game after one at-bat Tuesday night in anticipation of a possible need in Chicago.

“He did the splits to block a ball in the first inning, and the splits were not good,” manager Mike Quade said of Soto. “We’ll hope for the best, but it’s a tough place to be, squatting, when your groin’s bad.” Falling Starlin

On the anniversary of his three-error Wrigley Field debut Tuesday, struggling shortstop Starlin Castro was dropped to seventh in the order — the first time this season he hasn’t hit first, second or third.

‘‘It’s about protecting a kid and trying to help a club, trying to get him out of a bit of a mess,’’ Quade said of the cover boy who was 2-for-25 this month before going 2-for-4 with an RBI Tuesday. ‘‘I don’t think four or five games of struggling is a concern, but when it gets to be a week or two, then you’ve got to take a look at things.’’

Castro was one of the hottest hitters in baseball until assuming a share of the No. 3 spot in the order, where he went 6-for-38 (.158). But Quade said that didn’t do anything to affect Castro’s performance.

‘‘I didn’t see anything different with the approach,’’ Quade said. ‘‘I see a difference in the way the opposition is attacking him at times.’’

La Russa ailing

The Cardinals opened their series against the Cubs without ailing manager Tony La Russa — and unsure about when he’ll rejoin the team after undergoing tests and treatment in Arizona for an infection.

‘‘It’s something that we all understand,’’ Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols said. ‘‘His health is more important than a baseball game. He takes care of his business, and hopefully we can have him back soon.’’

La Russa, 66, was diagnosed with shingles after battling the infection around his right eye for weeks, the swelling more recently nearly closing his eye.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said he didn’t have a timeline for La Russa’s return.

‘‘This has been a long ordeal for him,’’ Cards shortstop Ryan Theriot said. ‘‘He’s really battled and pushed through it. But he’s got to get well. He’s been hurting, he really has.’’

‘‘I hope it’s a fixable situation quickly,’’ Cubs manager Mike Quade said. ‘‘But his influence is still with this club, whether he’s here or not.’’

Dougie Davis eyes

Veteran left-hander Doug Davis was limited to a pitch count in the 60s on Tuesday for Class AAA Iowa as the Cubs prepare him for the possibility of joining the big-league club Saturday for a start on short rest. Davis is an option the Cubs will consider for the fifth-starter slot filled by reliever James Russell since Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner went on the DL the first week of the season.

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Sun-Times Theriot’s no right yielder By: Gordon Wittenmyer

Five months later, as you visit Wrigley Field for the first time as a Cardinal, are you indeed on the ‘‘right side of the rivalry,’’ Ryan Theriot?

‘‘Well, yeah,’’ said the former Cubs middle , who riled fans and a few teammates last winter with those public comments soon after being traded from the Dodgers to St. Louis.

And just like that, the former Wrigley fan favorite turned into the ‘‘enemy’’ Carlos Zambrano called him during the Cubs Convention in January.

The fans booed him Tuesday during pregame introductions and each time he batted.

Saying the flap was ‘‘1,000 percent’’ blown out of proportion and ‘‘the stupidest thing in the world,’’ Theriot nonetheless didn’t back away from the comments.

‘‘What do you want me to say?’’ he said. ‘‘I stand by what I said. It’s the right side of the rivalry for me now. I’m a Cardinal. You can’t say you wish you were on the other side. I mean, come on, it’s like, ‘Who do you love more, your mom or your dad?’ ’’

The Cubs reacted the same way, with nothing close to the knockdown pitch that catcher Koyie Hill suggested in January was coming.

Theriot, who was excited about his return to Wrigley after the Cubs traded him to L.A. last July, said he talked to ex-teammates, including Hill, after the convention comments without issue.

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Daily Herald Fans unleash torrent of boos on Theriot By: Bruce Miles

It didn’t take Ryan Theriot long to find out how the Wrigley Field faithful felt about him.

Theriot was the leadoff batter for the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night as the two teams opened a three-game series. He was booed lustily when the starting lineups were announced. Fans also gave Theriot the business when he stepped to the plate in the first inning.

Theriot raised eyebrows during the winter when he said he was on “the right side” of the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry. That didn’t sit well with fans, and some Cubs players talked, perhaps half-kiddingly, of retaliation when the two teams met.

Theriot didn’t deny that he’s on the “right side” of things, but he tried to downplay the fuss.

“Well, yeah,” he said when asked if he indeed was on the right side. “To me, man, it’s so incredibly blown out of proportion it’s ridiculous. It’s the team you play for, the Cardinals. I was a Cub and now I’m a Cardinal. I love St. Louis, I love the Cardinals.”

The Cubs drafted Theriot in 2001, and he made it to the big leagues in 2005. In 2007, he took over as the starting shortstop. The Cubs traded him to the Dodgers last July. Over the winter, the Dodgers dealt him to St. Louis.

He said he was hoping for a good reception in Chicago.

“Blood, sweat and tears at this place for five years and in the minor leagues coming up, starting in ’01,” he said. “I’ve said this a million times: These fans here understand baseball and they appreciate effort and all that stuff. And that’s one of the reasons I love Chicago as much as I do.

“You would hope for a warm reception, just because it would be nice. You know what? It is what it is. You go out there and you play.”

Pitching plans:

The Cubs said pitchers Randy Wells (forearm strain) and Andrew Cashner (rotator-cuff strain) both threw live batting practice Monday in Arizona.

Wells will pitch in an extended spring-training game Thursday. Cashner will get another session of live batting practice, also Thursday.

Both pitchers have been on the disabled list since April 8. There is no timetable for either to return, although it seems Wells is getting close.

Manager Mike Quade said the Cubs would decide by Wednesday who would pitch Saturday night against the Giants at Wrigley Field. The Cubs have been able to skip that spot in the rotation because of off-days.

Veteran lefty Doug Davis started Tuesday night at Class AAA Iowa, but it’s unlikely the Cubs would bring him back on short rest. Another veteran, Ramon Ortiz, started Monday for Iowa, but he gave up 13 hits and 7 runs (4 earned) in 6 innings.

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Daily Herald Cubs don’t match buzz felt at Wrigley By: Bruce Miles

There was more than the usual flurry of activity in anticipation of a Cubs-Cardinals series Tuesday night at Wrigley Field.

Every time you turned around, a press conference broke out. Over here, it was former Cub Ryan Theriot saying he still feels he’s on the “right side” of the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry.

Over there it was Cubs manager Mike Quade explaining why he moved Starlin Castro down to the No. 7 spot in the lineup. And back over here, it was Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak saying that manager Tony La Russa is being treated for shingles. La Russa will miss this series and the weekend at Cincinnati.

Then there was the hug between Cubs GM Jim Hendry and Cardinals superstar and free-agent-to-be Albert Pujols. No doubt that sent the world atwitter.

Oh, and there was the game, a 6-4 victory for the Cardinals. The Cubs somehow managed to get 13 hits, but all were singles. They also left 12 runners on base and were guilty of some inattentive play in the field even though no errors were charged.

The Cubs also lost catcher Geovany Soto to a strained left groin in the first inning. He’ll have an MRI Wednesday, and it’s a good bet catcher Welington Castillo will be here from Class AAA Iowa.

The sideshows aside, this is another big series for the Cubs, who just dropped two of three to the Reds.

The Cardinals are leading the Central, and they came to town with the most potent offense in the league.

The St. Louis series presents another measuring stick, and the Cubs keep coming up short.

“I thought we hung with Cincinnati but didn’t get it done,” Quade said. “So we’ve got some work to do there. This is the current leader in the division and their offense is unbelievable. It’ll be a great challenge for us pitching wise and continue to try to a better job offensively. I can’t put a number on it, but it will be another way for us to measure where we’re at.”

Tuesday’s “right now” started with Castro hitting in the lowest spot he’s batted in all year after hitting 1, 2 or 3 in the early going. That’s what a 7-for-51 slump will do.

“Protecting a kid, trying to help a club, trying to get him out of a bit of a mess,” Quade said. “It seemed appropriate to me. That’s just what we do. I don’t think four or five games of struggling is a concern when it gets to be a week or two, you take a look at things.”

Cubs Carlos Zambrano battled through a 28-pitch first inning but managed to stay around through 7 innings of 8-hit, 4-run ball.

Zambrano managed to keep his cool despite Alfonso Soriano falling down on ’s triple in the fourth and the Cubs missing cutoff men.

“Things happen,” he said. “My job is to pitch and control what I do on the mound.”

That said, Quade acknowledged things have to tighten up.

“When you’re playing a club of this caliber, when you’re playing at this level, you have to make the plays,” he said.

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Cubs.com Miscues, missed opportunities haunt Cubs Club sloppy in field, strands 12 baserunners in loss to Cards By: Carrie Muskat

CHICAGO -- The box score will say the Cubs did not make any errors Tuesday night in a 6-4 loss to the Cardinals, but that doesn't tell the story.

Daniel Descalso hit a tiebreaking two-run single with two outs in the eighth off Kerry Wood to help Chris Carpenter pick up his first win of the season and lift the Cardinals to victory over the mistake-prone Cubs.

The Cubs outhit the Cardinals, 13-11, but also stranded 12 baserunners. They missed the cutoff man on at least one relay involving shortstop Starlin Castro and failed to get a runner at home despite a perfect throw from Kosuke Fukudome. Left fielder Alfonso Soriano slipped on the grass, which prevented him from catching a ball that ended up as a triple.

Here's another bizarre twist: All of Chicago's 13 hits were singles.

"I'm probably more upset about some of the defensive stuff and the plays we didn't make," Cubs manager Mike Quade said when asked if he was bothered by the lack of an extra-base hit in the baker's dozen. "I sound like a broken record, but I believe if we keep putting the ball in play like that, the extra- base hits are going to come. I'll believe that until the year's over, and they didn't."

The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the first on 's RBI single off Carlos Zambrano, but the Cubs loaded the bases in their half. Aramis Ramirez, batting .206 with runners in scoring position, then delivered a two-run single. It was Ramirez's first multi-RBI game since April 10.

Lance Berkman walked with one out in the Cardinals' fourth and scored on 's double. Nick Punto then hit the ball to left over Soriano, who slipped and fell backwards. The ball rolled to the wall for a triple and Molina tallied for a 3-2 lead.

Descalso then flied out to center, and Punto thought he had scored on the , but third-base umpire Paul Nauert ruled he left too early. Ramirez waved at catcher Koyie Hill to throw to him.

"I was watching the ball," Hill said. "I'm not watching the runner in that situation. They told me to throw it to third, and it worked out."

The Cubs got that play, but Punto made up for it in the seventh. He singled to lead off and scored two batters later on Ryan Theriot's sacrifice fly despite Fukudome's throw.

"It was perfect," Hill said of Fukudome's strike home. "He couldn't make a better throw. I'm sick to my stomach about it. I take a lot of pride in defending. It's one of those things -- I kicked it."

Darwin Barney and Marlon Byrd each singled to open the Chicago seventh and, one out later, Soriano was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Carlos Pena hit a sacrifice fly and Castro, dropped to seventh in the order because of his struggles at the plate, hit an RBI single to tie the game at 4. It was his second hit of the game; he had two hits in 25 at-bats in his previous six games.

With the game tied at 4 in the St. Louis eighth against Wood (1-2), Albert Pujols was safe on an infield single and Holliday walked. Both advanced on a flyout by Berkman, and Molina was intentionally walked to load the bases. Punto flied out, and Descalso singled to right to drive in two.

"He made a pretty tough pitch and I was able to stay short on it and get it into right field," Descalso said. "He's got good stuff. ... I was just trying to battle, trying to get something I could put the barrel on."

Wood was one strike away from getting out of the inning.

"Sometimes that's the nature of the reliever," Quade said. "We have to be able to overcome that, too, that's for sure."

None of that will make Wood feel any better.

"We're going to be in close games, and that's the way it's gone all year and I don't expect a lot to change," Wood said. "This one stings a little because we scored two and got back in the game. It stinks, but I'll be ready to go tomorrow."

Zambrano did not get a decision and remained winless in four starts at Wrigley Field. He served up four runs on eight hits over seven innings. Asked about the mistakes behind him, Zambrano shrugged.

"Things happen," he said. "My job is to pitch and control what I do on the mound."

What about the lack of clutch hits?

"I'm not the hitting coach," he said. "My job is to pitch. They pay me to win games."

The Cubs went 1-2 against the Reds and now trail their three-game series against the Cardinals.

"You have to keep swinging," Quade said. "There's a lot of ways to win a game. You score runs, you pitch it, you play defense, you make plays. ... When you're playing at this level you need to make the plays, but you certainly do with a club this good offensively and this good in general. You just can't give them extra opportunities. When you get a chance, you have to cash in."

Bench coach Joe Pettini was in charge of the Cardinals, subbing for manager Tony La Russa, who was in Phoenix to be treated for shingles, something that has bothered him for about one month. He will miss the remainder of the Cardinals' road trip, which runs through Sunday.

"I hope Tony's OK," Quade said. "His influence is with this club whether he's here or not."

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Cubs.com Soto to undergo MRI on left groin strain By: Carrie Muskat

CHICAGO -- Cubs catcher Geovany Soto on Wednesday will undergo an MRI on a strained left groin suffered in the first inning of Tuesday night's 6-4 loss to the Cardinals.

Soto apparently was hurt during Matt Holliday's at-bat in the Cardinals' first. The Cubs catcher came up limping after a foul ball by Holliday. Soto was lifted for pinch-hitter Koyie Hill in the Chicago first.

"He did the splits to block a ball in the first inning, and the splits were not good," Cubs manager Mike Quade said. "We need to be careful with this."

Soto has started 30 of 33 games and is batting .226 this season with three home runs and 12 RBIs. Catcher Welington Castillo was pulled from the Triple-A Iowa lineup Tuesday and may be headed for Chicago for the Cubs' game Wednesday night as insurance. Soto is expected to be sidelined for a few days.

In prolonged slump, Castro bats No. 7

CHICAGO -- Starlin Castro was in the No. 7 spot in the Cubs' lineup Tuesday, the lowest he's been in the order since the season began.

Heading into the game against the Cardinals, which the Cubs lost, 6-4, the shortstop was battling a 2-for- 25 skid in his last six games -- but he went 2-for-4 with a clutch, game-tying RBI single in the seventh inning. He's hitting .306 overall but is at .164 (9-for-55) in his last 13 games. Castro batted .393 in his first 20 games of the year.

"We're protecting the kid and trying to help the club and trying to get him out of a bit of a mess," Cubs manager Mike Quade said of the lineup switch. "It seemed appropriate to me. That's just what we do."

Quade wasn't concerned after four, five games, but Castro hasn't been able to get back on track for more than a week.

"It makes perfect sense to me that he came out of Spring Training and got pitches to hit and did all sorts of damage, and pitchers in this league have made it tougher on him and have adjusted," Quade said. "It's imperative that he start working to get out of that."

Hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo has worked with Castro, but Quade said it's up to the player to make the adjustment.

Castro has fared better in the leadoff spot. In 13 games batting first, he's hitting .424. In 10 games batting second, he's hitting .256 and in nine games in the three-hole, he's hitting .158. Quade defended the decision to move Castro to the third spot.

"It was the right thing to do at the time," he said. "I like the approach. I don't see anything different with the approach. I see a different way that the opposition is attacking him."

Castro, 21, hasn't complained about the switch. He still ranks among the National League's top hitters in fewest strikeouts per this season.

"He's handled it about as good as you can handle it," Quade said. "Now we have to get him back to where he's contributing on a regular basis with the bat. I don't see him hanging his head. I see him believing that he's going to get it done, and that's what you want. If he continues to work the way he does and listens to people who can help him ... I think he'll get back on track."

Cashner, Wells throwing to hitters this week

CHICAGO -- Cubs pitchers Andrew Cashner and Randy Wells, both on the disabled list, threw two innings each of live batting practice on Monday in Mesa, Ariz., at the team's extended spring training complex.

Wells, sidelined with a strained right forearm, will pitch in an extended spring game on Thursday in Mesa. Cashner, out with a strained right rotator cuff, will have another live batting practice session Thursday.

There is no timetable for their return, but both are expected to make at least one Minor League rehab start, if not more, before they are activated.

Casey Coleman (1-2, 6.29 ERA) is filling one of the vacancies, and the Cubs need a fifth starter on Saturday against the Giants. Cubs manager Mike Quade said he will announce on Wednesday whether they will go with James Russell, who is 0-4 with a 10.05 ERA in four starts.

Theriot clarifies comments, reminisces

CHICAGO -- Ryan Theriot said Tuesday that he didn't have any expectations as to how he'd be received by Cubs fans, but he at least had some hopes.

Theriot, who played more than 600 games as a Cub over six seasons, returned to Wrigley Field as a visitor for the first time on Tuesday. He stood by earlier comments that he's now on the "right side" of the Cardinals-Cubs rivalry, though he also expressed bemusement at how big a deal that comment became. Mostly, though, he reminisced fondly about his time in Chicago.

"All that stuff comes back," he said. "You remember your first game here. I remember walking out of that dugout and looking up and seeing all the fans and everything, first Major League game. Oh yeah. You remember all that stuff. A lot of great memories here for me. Two division titles."

As for the "right side" comment, which he made over the winter, Theriot made it clear he didn't think it was such a big deal.

"To me, man, that's just so incredibly blown out of proportion it's ridiculous," he said. "It's the team you play for. I'm a Cardinal. I was a Cub and now I'm a Cardinal. I love St. Louis and I love the Cardinals."

Theriot was loudly but not viciously booed upon coming to bat in the first inning, not the outcome he was hoping for.

"I would hope that they would give a good reception," he said before the game. "Blood, sweat and tears at this place for five years, and the Minor Leagues coming up, starting in '01. I've said this a million times: These fans here understand baseball and they appreciate effort and all that stuff. And that's one of the reasons I loved Chicago."

Levee flooding hits home for DeWitt

CHICAGO -- Blake DeWitt had seen the television coverage and photos from friends of the flooding near his home in Sikeston, Mo., created by the demolition of the Mississippi River levee. On Monday, he got a first-hand look.

"Driving around the levee, it's a sad sight," the Cubs infielder said Tuesday after spending the off-day back home. "I knew it was bad before I went but actually going and seeing it, it was pretty amazing how much water is in that area.

"You couldn't get close enough to where they blew [the levee], but with binoculars it looked like water was still coming in there. It's a lot of water."

The demolition was done to open a breach in the Birds Point levee and relieve some of the pressure caused by spring rains that threatened the southern Illinois town of Cairo. By opening the levee, more than 130,000 acres of farmland are now under water. DeWitt's home and family are fine and were not damaged. But he's gotten photos from friends, including one who now has a duck blind in 32 feet of water.

"It's a mess," DeWitt said. "It's going to be a mess for a long time."

Every year, residents of the area have to deal with some water issues, but nothing like this.

"You're used to some spring flooding," DeWitt said. "Every spring, you'll have some water levels rise, but nobody has ever seen this. This is historic and hopefully it never happens again. It was something to see," he said.

Dominican Cubs, Cards players honored

CHICAGO -- Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and Gisselle Castillo-Veremis, the consul general of the , honored Cubs and Cardinals players from the Dominican in a pregame ceremony Tuesday. Starlin Castro, Carlos Marmol, Marcos Mateo, Carlos Peña, Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano and the Cardinals' Albert Pujols and were presented a special recognition award on behalf of the president of the Dominican Republic.

The Cubs have expanded their commitment to the Caribbean island. They are in the process of finalizing details for a new academy there. Chicago Cubs Charities donated more than $40,000 to the Dominican in the last year. The money was designated to fund a rural health care program and doctor visits to communities to identify patients at risk for diabetes, to expand a surgical center recovery room, and to construct a new facility at a local school.

The first Dominican-born Cubs player was Roberto Pena, who was the team's Opening Day shortstop in 1965. Pena played in 57 games for the Cubs (1965-66), 55 of those games at shortstop. The Cubs' first Dominican-born pitcher was Jose Nunez in 1990.

Carlos Pena is the 46th Dominican player to appear in a Major League game with the Cubs. Of those 46, played the longest at 13 years. Ramirez (nine seasons), Marmol (six seasons) and Soriano (five seasons) are next on the seniority list.

At least one Dominican-born player has played for the Cubs every season since 1989. Last year, there were seven with Soriano, Castro, Ramirez, Marmol, Mateo, Esmailin Caridad and Welington Castillo. Seven Dominican-born players also played for the Cubs in 1997.

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Cubs.com Cardinals continue at Wrigley without La Russa By: Jason Mastrodonato

The Cardinals won their first game without their skipper on Tuesday night, as Tony La Russa remained in Phoenix to have a persistent case of shingles evaluated and will miss the remainder of his team's road trip, which concludes Sunday. La Russa has been bothered by the ailment for about a month.

But the veteran coaching staff had no problem handling the responsibilities in a 6-4 win over the Cubs. Bench coach Joe Pettini took over for La Russa, while pitching coach handled the pitching decisions and first-base coach Dave McKay and third-base coach Jose Oquendo managed the offense. But Cubs manager Mike Quade knows that La Russa will still have an impact on the series.

"I do believe being gone for a little bit, his influence is with this club whether he's here or not," Quade said.

"I hope Tony's OK. I don't know what he's going through, but I know it's not good. Him being gone, his club knows where he's at. I just hope he's OK and gets well in a hurry."

Quade knows that if the Cubs want to win the three-game series with their foes, containing , who is hitting .367 with 10 home runs and 32 RBIs, will be a focus.

"He's off to a fabulous start, and you put him and the start [Matt] Holliday is off to around Albert [Pujols], and it's something," Quade said. "I believe [Colby] Rasmus has improved. They've gotten off to a fabulous start -- let's see if we can cool them off."

Matt Garza will look to continue his fiery start to his NL career, and if recent history is any indication, there is sure to be a lot of swinging and missing on Wednesday. Garza has struck out 33 batters over 26 innings in his last four starts.

But he is 1-4 on the season after allowing five runs to the Reds in his last appearance.

"The got him in trouble, and that's been a big pitch for him," Quade said.

Jake Westbrook is on the hill for St. Louis, as the veteran right-hander is coming off three straight quality starts.

"I think it's me getting back in the zone, me being aggressive, me finding that rhythm early on and just kind of riding it out," Westbrook said. "That's what I'm capable of doing if I get into that pattern of attacking the zone and using my sinker and getting ahead of guys. Hopefully I can keep that going."

Cardinals: Sanchez pitches ninth again

• Eduardo Sanchez picked up his fourth save of the season Tuesday night, as the 22-year-old Venezuelan continues to shine in his rookie season. Sanchez has fanned 21 in 14 innings this year with a 2.57 ERA and has been the hot hand in the Cardinals' closer-by-committee since Ryan Franklin was removed from the role.

• General manager John Mozeliak said is still likely two weeks away from returning to the club. He's been out since mid-April with a hyperextended right elbow. Daniel Descalso, who hit a go- ahead two-run single in the eighth inning of Tuesday night's win, has hit .243 with one as Schumaker's primary fill-in at second base.

Cubs: Slumping Castro moved down

• Starlin Castro went 2-for-4 after being pushed down to the No. 7 spot in the order Tuesday night. He's 4-for-29 in his last seven games but is still hitting .306 on the season.

"We're protecting the kid and trying to help the club and trying to get him out of a bit of a mess," Quade said of the lineup switch. "It seemed appropriate to me. That's just what we do."

• Catcher Geovany Soto left Tuesday's game with a strained left groin in the first inning and will undergo an MRI on Wednesday. Soto has started 30 of 33 games for the Cubs and is hitting .226.

Worth noting

• Pujols has had Chicago's number over the years. His 47 career home runs against the Cubs are his most against any team.

• is fully available to the Cardinals again after being bothered by soreness in his left calf recently.

• In the last 12 games, the Cubs have committed just one error.

• Darwin Barney had three more hits Tuesday and is leading the Cubs with a .331 batting average.

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Cubs.com Pujols, Cubs GM Hendry embrace before game By: Spencer Fordin

Albert Pujols shared a brief greeting with Chicago general manager Jim Hendry around the batting cage at Wrigley Field on Tuesday night, embracing and conversing before the series opener between the Cubs and Cardinals. Hendry, who figures to be a key suitor should Pujols become a free agent, spoke briefly to reporters about the encounter.

"Well, he hugged me first?" Hendry told reporters when asked about the greeting. "He's a lot bigger and stronger than me."

Pujols, who had four hits in the Cardinals' 6-4 victory, could have his first shot at free agency after this season. The three-time National League Most Valuable Player Award winner is poised to be the hottest player on the open market, and while Hendry would likely love a shot at adding Pujols, he said that Tuesday's conversation was anything but business.

"'I'm not going to treat Albert any different, and the same with him," Hendry said. "We don't talk about what's going to happen. It's 'How's your son?' 'How's your kids?' I'm just a little different. I've always gotten along with players."

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CSNChicago.com Albert Pujols, welcome to Wrigley Field By: Patrick Mooney

Albert Pujols hugged Jim Hendry behind the batting cage at Wrigley Field on Tuesday and immediately the Cubs general manager knew this would become a story.

Pujols is an icon in St. Louis and will wear a Cardinals hat on his Hall of Fame plaque. But he is positioned to become a free agent at season’s end and demand the biggest deal in baseball history.

Whether it’s accurate or not, the early buzz has the Cubs going hard after Pujols, because they have several expensive contracts coming off the books and they need a draw to sell tickets and fill six months of television programming.

So when Hendry and Pujols embraced, reporters scrambled to get a picture and get the word out on Twitter. As Hendry likes to say, that’s the world we live in.

“I can’t win,” a bemused Hendry said. “I like Albert. We’ve always gotten along. He’s a great, great player. I admire the heck out of him. He plays the game the right way every day.”

Hendry pointed out that he also hugged Ryan Theriot, the ex-Cubs shortstop. The executive will turn 56 this summer but feels much younger and relates well to players. He loves walking through the clubhouse and trading stories in the dugout before the game.

Hendry has so many connections throughout the industry – he once tried to recruit Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter to Creighton University when he was the head coach in Omaha, Neb. – that you shouldn’t read too much into this.

Chairman Tom Ricketts also shook hands with Pujols on Tuesday and approval for what could be a $300 million deal would have to come from the ownership level.

Now in their second season owning the team, the Ricketts family does not have a clear track record in the free-agent market.

Hendry, who is signed through the 2012 season, knows this is a big year for his front office. One veteran Cub looked around the room during spring training – Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Pena, Matt Garza, Carlos Zambrano – and credited Hendry for his aggressive style.

“If he wants a guy, he’s going to get him,” the player said. “If he can (do it), he’ll figure out a way.”

Plan B

The Cubs do not have an obvious first baseman of the future. Hendry and agent negotiated a $10 million “pillow contract” for Pena that will be paid out over 13 months, with installments coming in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

On some level that may say something about how cautious and conservative the organization will operate – with a greater emphasis on scouting and player development. Both sides wanted the flexibility of a one- year deal for Pena, fueling speculation that the Cubs will make a run at Pujols.

Pena entered Tuesday hitting .198 but experienced a power surge with three home runs last week. The Cubs love his leadership and Gold Glove defense. This is his platform year.

The Cubs believe Tyler Colvin has shown that he can also play first base, but he’s blocked by Pena, and is having trouble getting playing time in an outfield that already includes Soriano, Marlon Byrd and Kosuke Fukudome.

Colvin has started 13 of 34 games and is hitting .121. The 25-year-old first-round pick also did not have a great spring training. Even though he hit 20 homers in 358 at-bats last season, he may eventually be better off playing every day at Triple-A Iowa.

“He’s gonna be part of the future (and) all of us think he’s gonna hit down the road,” Hendry said. “You’d like to get him more at-bats, just to see if you could get him going. But when he’s in there, he’s not swinging well enough to take the other guys’ at-bats away either.

“It’s a double-whammy. It’s not a question of not rotating four guys or there are too many outfielders. It’s (that) he’s in a little rut. He’s not swinging well and the other guys are.”

The pitch

Pujols has certainly noticed how cramped the visiting clubhouse is at Wrigley Field. But the slugger began this series with 25 homers and 64 RBI in 80 careers games on the North Side.

If Pujols ever has any questions about these two baseball cities, the fans and the media intensity, he can ask Theriot.

“Probably the most glaring difference is just the amenities,” Theriot said. “There’s just no room here to do anything. (It) puts the team in a tough spot because there’s really no space to add cages or different parts of the clubhouse.

“This place is historic and you want to keep it just like it is because it’s such an awesome stadium.”

Theriot doesn’t have a real theory why the Cubs have gone more than a century without winning a . He mentioned the day games and the facilities but believes “it’s gonna happen.” Anything is possible.

“I never thought I’d leave Chicago either,” Theriot said. “It’s a business and things happen and you see guys go and play for another rival team all the time.”

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CSNChicago.com On this night, Cardinals on right side of rivalry By: Patrick Mooney

As the fans settled into their seats and darkness fell on Wrigley Field, the boos seemed to get louder each time Ryan Theriot stepped to the plate.

The new Cardinals shortstop says that he does not want to be the villain. But an ex-Cub who was pretty savvy in dealing with the Chicago media shouldn’t have been surprised that his comments to a St. Louis radio station gained such traction.

“What do you want me to say?” Theriot said. “Now that I’m a Cardinal, I still stand by what I said. It’s the right side of the rivalry for me now. You can’t say you wish you were on the other side.

“That’s just so incredibly blown out of proportion. It’s ridiculous.”

Instead of Theriot, those 34,249 fans could have directed their anger in any number of directions during Tuesday’s 6-4 loss to the Cardinals. The bad news came quick.

Catcher Geovany Soto did a split while trying to block a ball in the first inning and was removed from the game with a left groin strain.

Soto will undergo an MRI on Wednesday morning that could force him onto the disabled list. Welington Castillo, a likely call-up, was pulled from Triple-A Iowa’s game Tuesday night in Colorado Springs.

No excuses, the first-place Cardinals (21-15) have already endured all kinds of adversity, but keep rolling along.

In spring training they lost to Tommy John surgery. Now they’re playing without manager Tony La Russa, who was examined at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona and diagnosed with shingles, which will keep him from making this road trip.

“He’s done an amazing job doing his job,” Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said. “But he hasn’t been the same Tony.”

The Cardinals took advantage of mistakes, whether it was Alfonso Soriano slipping in left field to hand Nick Punto an RBI triple in the fourth, or catcher Koyie Hill dropping a perfect throw from Kosuke Fukudome that would have nailed Punto on Theriot’s sacrifice fly in the seventh.

“With a club that’s this good,” Cubs manager Mike Quade said, “you just can’t give them extra opportunities.”

Still, the Cubs (15-19) had tied it heading into the eighth when Kerry Wood gave up an infield single to Albert Pujols and walked Matt Holliday. Wood – who had a 0.72 ERA in his last 35 outings dating back to Aug. 6 of last season – got a 2-2 count on Daniel Descalso before he lined a two-out, two-run single into right.

“We were one pitch away,” Wood said. “We’re going to be in close games. That’s the way it’s been all year. I don’t expect a whole lot to change.

“It sucks losing, no question. But it’s tougher when your team comes back and has a rally and scores two and ties the game – and then the next half-inning you give it right back. That’s the hardest part.”

Those are the margins the Cubs have to work with when they generate 13 hits – but all singles – against Cy Young winner Chris Carpenter.

“I sound like a broken record,” Quade said. “But I believe if we keep putting the ball in play like that, the extra-base hits are gonna come. And I’ll believe that until the year is over and we didn’t.”

The lack of clutch hitting will continue to be a story when Carlos Zambrano – who allowed four runs in seven innings – is decent but not dominant. The media’s not going to let these things go.

Just ask Theriot (0-for-4, 1 RBI). One reporter wondered if too much was made of his comments about finally being on the right side of the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry.

“1,000 percent,” Theriot said. “It’s the stupidest thing in the world. Honestly, if you really want to know my opinion, I think it’s really dumb. Come on, you know, it’s like: Who do you love more, your mom or your dad?”