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It's Monday here.
Wayfaring Cards to play host to Cubs
Chicago (66-70) at St. Louis (87-50), 1:15 p.m. CT
By Jim Molony / MLB.com
The Cardinals, back from their longest road trip of the season, open a 10-game homestand on Labor Day afternoon against the Chicago Cubs.
The Cardinals' magic number to clinch the National League Central Division stands at 12 after taking two of three from Houston over the weekend at Minute Maid Park.
Monday will see Jeff Suppan on the hill for the Cards, while right-hander Mark Prior gets the call for the Cubs.
Pitching matchup
CHC: RHP Mark Prior
• 10-5, 3.72 ERA in 2005
• 1-0, 4.50 ERA vs. STL in 2005
STL: RHP Jeff Suppan
• 13-10, 3.90 ERA in 2005
• 0-1, 2.92 ERA vs. CHC in 2005
Players to watch
David Eckstein extended his hitting streak to nine games and is hitting .409 (18-for-44) during that span. ... Yadier Molina went 6-for-13 in the Houston series (.462) and is hitting .360 (32-for-89) against left-handed pitchers this season. ... Jim Edmonds' single on Sunday was his fifth hit in the series in 14 at-bats, a .357 clip. ... Pujols has been playing despite a sore heel, but even with his running hampered, the slugging first baseman was 5-for-12 in the series at Houston.
Quotable
"It was frustrating because I had some good games there where I didn't see any results. In that sense, it was toying with my mind." -- Jason Marquis, on his midseason struggles
Quick hits
The complete games by Chris Carpenter and Marquis marked the first time this season Cardinal starters have gone the distance in back-to-back games. ... The Cardinals finished their longest road trip of the year with a 9-4 record. ... Marquis was hit on the knuckle of his left hand by a pitch from Houston reliever Brandon Duckworth in the seventh inning on Sunday. The right-hander's left hand was wrapped up following the game. "Precautionary," Marquis explained. "Just got hit with a cutter. It hit the knuckle and stripped the skin off my little finger. It's all right." ... Pujols walked twice during Sunday's game, once intentionally. "We're getting to that thing where they're taking the bat out of Albert's hands," Cards manager Tony La Russa said. "It's going to be a factor for his production, but it puts another guy on base and somebody's coming through."
On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes
On television
• CHC: WGN
• STL: Fox Sports Net Midwest
On radio
• CHC: WGN 720 AM
• STL: KMOX AM, 1120
On deck
• Monday: vs. Cubs, 1:15 p.m. CT
• Tuesday: vs. Cubs, 7:10 p.m. CT
• Wednesday: vs. Cubs, 7:10 p.m. CT
Chicago (66-70) at St. Louis (87-50), 1:15 p.m. CT
By Jim Molony / MLB.com
The Cardinals, back from their longest road trip of the season, open a 10-game homestand on Labor Day afternoon against the Chicago Cubs.
The Cardinals' magic number to clinch the National League Central Division stands at 12 after taking two of three from Houston over the weekend at Minute Maid Park.
Monday will see Jeff Suppan on the hill for the Cards, while right-hander Mark Prior gets the call for the Cubs.
Pitching matchup
CHC: RHP Mark Prior
• 10-5, 3.72 ERA in 2005
• 1-0, 4.50 ERA vs. STL in 2005
STL: RHP Jeff Suppan
• 13-10, 3.90 ERA in 2005
• 0-1, 2.92 ERA vs. CHC in 2005
Players to watch
David Eckstein extended his hitting streak to nine games and is hitting .409 (18-for-44) during that span. ... Yadier Molina went 6-for-13 in the Houston series (.462) and is hitting .360 (32-for-89) against left-handed pitchers this season. ... Jim Edmonds' single on Sunday was his fifth hit in the series in 14 at-bats, a .357 clip. ... Pujols has been playing despite a sore heel, but even with his running hampered, the slugging first baseman was 5-for-12 in the series at Houston.
Quotable
"It was frustrating because I had some good games there where I didn't see any results. In that sense, it was toying with my mind." -- Jason Marquis, on his midseason struggles
Quick hits
The complete games by Chris Carpenter and Marquis marked the first time this season Cardinal starters have gone the distance in back-to-back games. ... The Cardinals finished their longest road trip of the year with a 9-4 record. ... Marquis was hit on the knuckle of his left hand by a pitch from Houston reliever Brandon Duckworth in the seventh inning on Sunday. The right-hander's left hand was wrapped up following the game. "Precautionary," Marquis explained. "Just got hit with a cutter. It hit the knuckle and stripped the skin off my little finger. It's all right." ... Pujols walked twice during Sunday's game, once intentionally. "We're getting to that thing where they're taking the bat out of Albert's hands," Cards manager Tony La Russa said. "It's going to be a factor for his production, but it puts another guy on base and somebody's coming through."
On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes
On television
• CHC: WGN
• STL: Fox Sports Net Midwest
On radio
• CHC: WGN 720 AM
• STL: KMOX AM, 1120
On deck
• Monday: vs. Cubs, 1:15 p.m. CT
• Tuesday: vs. Cubs, 7:10 p.m. CT
• Wednesday: vs. Cubs, 7:10 p.m. CT
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