ST. LOUIS (AP) - Matt Holliday returned to the St. Louis Cardinals’ lineup Monday after missing six starts with a left quadriceps injury.
Holliday was batting .347, second in the National League behind teammate Lance Berkman’s .354 average, entering Monday’s game against the San Francisco Giants. The Cardinals were 4-2 without their cleanup hitter, winning series at San Diego and Colorado.
Holliday made one appearance in the six games, drawing an intentional walk Friday night at Colorado.
Berkman batted cleanup during Holliday’s absence and was 8 for 17 with seven walks and an RBI. He was back in the fifth slot on Monday.
The Cardinals were 2-27 in series against defending world champions under manager Tony La Russa entering a four-game series against San Francisco. La Russa said he wasn’t aware of that.
“What? Thanks for mentioning it,” he said to a reporter. “I’m just going to ignore it.”
La Russa said for now he’s not considering moving No. 3 hitter Albert Pujols around in the order. Pujols was in 3 for 20 slump and had only four RBIs in the last 17 games.
“He’s immune to pressure, but if I thought he needed a break I’d do whatever it took,” La Russa said. “You try to get the best out of him and if anybody’s struggling you’re just open-minded to do anything.
“But I’m not going to write him out of the third spot for this week.”
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