ST. LOUIS — Outfielder Carlos Beltran and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed to a two-year, $26 million contract Thursday night.

Beltran, 34, likely will play right field. Allen Craig was penciled in to play right until undergoing a knee surgery that will sideline him for at least the first month.

“Beltran is a proven outfielder who obviously has been a tough opponent against the Cardinals for many years,” Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak said in a statement released by the team. “It is going to be nice to have his bat and competitive nature working for us instead of on the other side of the field for the next couple of years.”

Beltran, a former center fielder and six-time All-Star, batted .300 with 39 doubles, six triples, 22 home runs and 84 RBIs in 142 games with the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants. Beltran won Gold Glove Awards from 2006-08.

The switch-hitting Beltran has had injury problems in the past, but if he’s healthy, he figures to be a force in a lineup that will try to recover from the free-agent defection of Albert Pujols to the Los Angeles Angels.

New Cardinals manager Mike Matheny could bat Beltran third or fifth, assuming left fielder Matt Holliday remains in the cleanup spot. Lance Berkman, who played right field last season, will take over at first base for Pujols.

Beltran has a .283 career average with 302 homers and 1,146 RBIs in 1,768 games. His signing makes him a teammate of pitcher Adam Wainwright, who caught Beltran looking at a called third strike to end Game 7 of the National League Championship Series in 2006 when Beltran was with the New York Mets.

The Cardinals went on to defeat the Detroit Tigers in the World Series.

Beltran also had a big series against St. Louis in the 2004 NLCS, that series also was won by the Cardinals in seven games.

St. Louis will be Beltran’s fifth team, following the Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros, the Mets and Giants.

Backup catcher Gerald Laird(notes) will be leaving the St. Louis Cardinals. The free agent signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Detroit Tigers to play backup to all-star catcher Alex Avila(notes). Laird played only 37 games for the World Series champion Cardinals. He was the primary catcher for Detroit in 2009 and then shared catching duties with Avila in 2010.

Laird batted .232 in 2011 with a homer and 12 RBIs and scored 11 runs. He was a steady replacement for the younger Yadier Molina(notes). Molina came through with many clutch hits and plays late in the season for the St. Louis Cardinals as they made it to the playoffs and then won the dramatic World Series in seven games over the Texas Rangers.

Laird’s departure isn’t critical to the Cardinals. ESPN reported St. Louis signed him to a similar contract for the 2011 season. Molina is still healthy and will be a great backstop. Molina is under contract through the 2012 season as St. Louis picked up his $7 million option for next season. The Cardinals’ catcher had his best year batting with a .305 average at the plate and 65 RBIs to go along with 14 home runs.

Molina is also one of the best defensive catchers in the National League. In 2006, he threw out 50 percent of the men who tried to steal bases.

General manager John Mozeliak said the team’s priorities are signing free agents until the winter meetings close. That includes superstar Albert Pujols(notes) who will be courted by other teams in his free agent period. Teams have until Dec. 12 to finalize contracts for the 2012 season and avoid possible arbitration.

St. Louis will try to keep the successful team fro the 2011 World Series run intact as much possible. Manager Tony LaRussa retired days after winning the title. Former catcher Mike Matheny was hired as his successor.

Much of the offseason news with St. Louis will revolve around Pujols and which team he will end up with after the free agent period is over. Laird’s exodus from the team is the first free agent lost after they won the World Series. St. Louis may call up catcher Bryan Anderson(notes) from AAA Memphis to take Laird’s spot. He played 98 games for the Redbirds with a .281 average and 37 RBI as a starter.

William Browning was born in St. Louis and is a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan. He currently resides in Branson, Mo.

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By
Sportsmail Reporter

Last updated at 10:26 AM on 29th October 2011

St Louis Cardinals completed their magical comeback season by beating the Texas Rangers 6-2 in a deciding Game Seven to clinch the World Series.

After left-fielder Allen Craig caught David Murphy’s fly for the final out, the Cards rushed into the infield to celebrate a season in which they overcame a 10-1/2 game deficit in the last month to reach the playoffs and battled back twice in the postseason for their 11th Major League Baseball crown.

Delight: St Louis Cardinals celebrate winning the World Series

Confetti filled the chilly night air as the raucous, white-towel waving crowd at Busch Stadium roared in delight and fireworks lit the sky.   

‘There’s just one way to describe it – it’s unbelievable, amazing, incredible,’ Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said in a ceremony in the middle of the diamond. ‘It’s hard to imagine it actually happened.’

The World Series Most Valuable Player award went to hometown hero David Freese, whose two-run triple in the bottom of the ninth sent Game Six into extra innings before his 11th-inning home run won that game for the Cardinals to force the decider.

Freese, who also won MVP honours in the National League Championship Series against Milwaukee, drove in two runs on Friday and finished the Fall Classic with seven runs batted in.   

‘This is definitely a dream come true,’ the 28-year-old third baseman said after being awarded the trophy and a new sports car. ‘This is incredible.’

Main man: David Freese marks his game-winning home run

It was a wrenching defeat for the Rangers, who had twice been one strike away during Game Six of clinching their first title in 51 years of existence, and who had fallen last year to the San Francisco Giants in their first Fall Classic.

‘I just told my team they are champions,’ said Texas manager Ron Washington. ‘Someone had to win and someone had to lose and it was the Cardinals who won.   

‘It was in our grasp and we didn’t get it done. We fought hard but the Cardinals were too good. My hat’s off to the Cardinals, they cleanly beat us.’

The Cardinals rallied one last time in their season of heart-stopping comebacks by spotting the Rangers a 2-0 lead in the first inning before surging to victory.

After back-to-back run-scoring doubles by Josh Hamilton and Michael Young in the first off St Louis starter Chris Carpenter, the Cards immediately tied the game in their half of the first on a two-run double by Game Six hero Freese.   

A solo home run by Craig in the third inning gave St Louis a 3-2 lead before Texas pitching unravelled in the fifth. St Louis tacked on two more runs in the fifth without a hit as the Texas bullpen wilted.

Off the rails: Freese flips over trying to field a foul ball

Scott Feldman, who had relieved starter Matt Harrison, issued a one-out walk to Craig and then hit Albert Pujols with a pitch. The runners moved up on Lance Berkman’s ground out and with first base open, Freese was intentionally walked.   

Yadier Molina walked on a full-count pitch just outside the strike zone to force in a run. Left-hander C.J. Wilson, the Game One and Game Five starter, was brought in to face Rafael Furcal and he hit the shortstop with a pitch to allow another run to score for a 5-2 St Louis lead. Molina drove in the last St Louis run with a seventh-inning single.   

Cardinals starter Carpenter, pitching on a short rest period, went six innings for the series-clinching win, giving up two runs on six hits while striking out five.

‘It’s awesome to get the World Series back in St Louis and get another ring,’ said Carpenter, who was also a member of the 2006 World Series-winning Cardinals team.   

Pujols, the three-times National League MVP who put on a record-setting offensive display in Game Three with three home runs, five hits and six runs batted in, was thrilled.

‘Two months ago we were supposed to be at home watching the World Series,’ said Pujols. ‘Now we are the world champions.’

Area St. Louis Cardinals fans packed area bars and restaurants with plenty of red Sunday afternoon to cheer on their team in the first game of the National League Championship Series.

Donald Wozniak of Peoria watched the Cardinals’ 9-6 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers from the friendly confines of Johnny Vig’s Scotch and Cigar Lounge with his friend Zach Hedeman and other fans.

“It’s going to be a tough battle against the Brewers, but we have high hopes,” said Wozniak, who inherited his love for St. Louis’ ballclub from his father. “We ended the season on a roll and battled back against the Phillies, so we got some fight in us.”

Beating the team with the best regular season record in baseball in the first round of the playoffs was nice, said Hedeman, but it’s far from over.

“My grandfather grew up in Missouri, so being a Cards fan is a family heritage for me,” the Peorian said.

Peoria resident Jerry Velpel sported a bright red Cardinals pullover at Kouri’s Pub on Sunday to show his pride. He’s been a fan of the team since Stan Musial was setting records for them as a Hall of Fame outfielder in the ’40s and ’50s.

“It was exciting beating the Phillies, but the Brewers are a tough club,” said Velpel, who makes it to Busch Stadium, where the Cardinals play their home games, up to a dozen times a season with friends and family.

Velpel travels down to Fort Myers, Fla., to work for the Minnesota Twins during spring training each year, helping direct autograph seekers and keeping distractions for the ball players to a minimum. He’s a St. Louis Cardinals fan first and foremost, but he’ll go see any team play.

“I’m just an all-around fan of baseball,” he said.

Rob Kenny has been a fan of the Cardinals since he was 4 years old. He said he never once thought they’d make the playoffs this year, so just seeing his squad play Sunday was enjoyable.

“We have experience, so I like their chances, but this is the sixth extra game this season, so that’s a gift in itself for me,” said Kenny, who was born and resides in Peoria but has a loyalty to the baseball team from St. Louis that is unparalleled.

“If I was only allowed to cheer for one team in any sport, I’d cheer for St. Louis Cardinals baseball,” he said.

The Cardinals continue their series against the Brewers on Monday in Milwaukee.

Eric Engel can be reached at 686-3194 or eengel@pjstar.com.

One of the rare players who has enjoyed recent, albeit limited, success against Halladay is Cardinals outfielder Lance Berkman.

During the Phillies’ 11-6 win over the Cardinals in Game 1, Berkman opened the scoring with a three-run, first-inning home run off Halladay.

The Phillies righthander promptly shut down the Cardinals during the remainder of his time on the mound. After Berkman’s one-out home run, Halladay allowed just one hit until he departed after the eighth.

It was the second time in a two-week span that Berkman had taken Halladay deep. On Sept. 19, Berkman hit a solo home run in the first inning off Halladay in a 4-3 Cardinals win in Philadelphia.

To put that in perspective, Halladay surrendered 10 home runs in the regular season, and nobody hit more than one.

Berkman, who is 2 for 5 lifetime against Halladay in the regular season, isn’t very impressed by his limited success against the Phillies righthander.

“I think it’s meaningless,” Berkman said in the Cardinals clubhouse. “He is going to go out there tomorrow night and be really good and be really tough, and what you have done against him in the past or what he has done against you is irrelevant.”

Berkman said past performance isn’t a good way to judge a pitcher-vs.-batter matchup.

“Most of the time when you are talking of a good pitcher, it’s what he has that night,” Berkman said. “If he has good stuff, you do the best you can, and if he doesn’t, maybe you have a chance.”

Contact staff writer Marc Narducci at 856-779-3225, mnarducci@phillynews.com,

or @sjnard on Twitter.

The St. Louis Cardinals kept their playoff hopes alive Saturday, scoring two runs in a wild bottom of the 9th to beat the Chicago Cubs 2-1 at Busch Stadium.

Carrying a 1-0 lead into the final inning, Cubs closer Carlos Marmol walked three straight hitters, the last one forcing in the tying run, then uncorked a wild pitch as pinch runner Adron Chambers crossed the plate and was mobbed by his teammates. 

The win, coupled with Atlanta’s 4-1 defeat at Washington, put the Cardinals back within two games of the Braves in the National League Wildcard race. St. Louis has one game remaining at home on Sunday, then travels to Houston for the final three games of the season beginning Monday.

“We’re in it,” St. Louis manager Tony LaRussa said. ”It’s part of the excitement, we’re in it. The boys are excited.”

The Cubs jumped on Cards’ starter Kyle Lohse for a run in the top of the 1st on back to back hits by Darwin Barney and Bryan LaHair, followed by Alfonso Soriano’s run scoring single that made it 1-0. St. Louis would hold Chicago scoreless the remainder of the game.

Lohse allowed one run on six hits in seven innings, then gave way to Octavio Dotel, Marc Rzepczynski and Jason Motte, who kept the Cubs off the scoreboard.

LaRussa says Lohse’s performance was outstanding. “Just one ball a little bit up to Soriano. He could have popped it up. He was outstanding. Very good.” 

Chicago’s starter, Rodrigo Lopez, was also solid, scattering four hits in six innings of work.

With the crowd on its feet through much of the inning, the bottom of the 9th started with Lance Berkman lining out to center off Marmol (2-6). Matt Holliday, out of the lineup for the past two weeks with an injury to his right middle finger, got his first hit since September 11th, singling to right center. After David Freese struck out, Marmol walked Molina, Skip Schumaker and pinch hitter Ryan Theriot to force in a run and tie the game 1-1. Then, with Rafael Furcal batting, Marmol threw one to the backstop and Chambers dashed home with the winning run.

Jason Motte, who got the last two outs in the top of the 9th, picks up the win. He’s 5-2 on the season.

The Cardinals will play their 81st and final home game of 2011 Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:15 at Busch Stadium. Edwin Jackson (12-9) will take the mound for St. Louis. He’ll be opposed by Randy Wells (7-5).

Game Notes:

The game-ending win by wild pitch was the first for the Cardinals since April 9th, 2001 when Colorado’s Jose Jimenez uncorked a wild pitch on opening day, scoring Ray Lankford with the winning run.

Albert Pujols, who could potentially be playing his final game in St. Louis as a Cardinal on Sunday, has reached base by a hit or a walk in 40 consecutive games. That’s the longest streak in major league baseball this season. Pujols was 0-3 at the plate with a walk and his batting average stands at .303.

The St. Louis Cardinals’ improbable run toward the National League Wildcard took another big step backward Friday night as the Chicago Cubs scored four runs in the final two innings to win 5-1 at Busch Stadium.

The Cards’ loss, coupled with Atlanta’s 7-4 win over Washington, pushed the Cardinals three games behind Atlanta in the wildcard race with five to play.  It also means Milwaukee, with its 4-1 win over Florida, has clinched its first National League Central Division crown and its first division championship since 1982 (when the Brewers played in the American League).

The Redbirds jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd when starting pitcher Chris Carpenter laid down a bunt on a suicide squeeze play, scoring Skip Schumaker from third. It was the first time St. Louis squeezed home a runner at Busch Stadium since the final weekend of the 2010 season.

The Cubs tied the game 1-1 in the top of the 6th on Carlos Pena’s RBI double. It was the only run Carpenter gave up. The Cards’ starter also allowed five hits in seven innings, striking out five while allowing two walks.

In the 8th, Chicago’s Darwin Barney started the inning with a triple off reliever Kyle McClellan (12-7). After Bryan LaHair grounded out to Albert Pujols, Carlos Pena was walked intentionally, setting the stage for the shot that silenced the crowd of just over 40,000. Alfonso Soriano belted a three run homer over the left field wall, giving his team a 4-1 lead.

The Cubs added another run in the 9th off reliever Mitchell Boggs. Starlin Castro singled in Tony Campana, making the score 5-1.

Jeff Samardzija (8-4) pitched one scoreless inning in relief of Cubs’ starter Ryan Dempster to earn the win.

The Cardinals continue their final home series of 2011 Saturday afternoon, with first pitch at 12:10 against the Cubs. Kyle Lohse (14-8) will pitch for St. Louis against Chicago’s Rodrigo Lopez (6-6).

Game Notes:

The Cardinals grounded into three double plays Friday night, giving them 165 for the year. The next twin killing the Cards hit into will tie the National League record of 166, set by the 1958 Cardinals.

Friday’s announced attendance of 40,335 put the Cardinals over three million fans for the eighth consecutive season and the 15th time in club history.

The St. Louis Cardinals are quietly sneaking back into contention in both the National League Central and wildcard races, beating Atlanta 4-3 Saturday night at Busch Stadium.

Jaime Garcia (12-7) allowed three runs in six innings and the bullpen handled the rest, with Marc Rzepczynski, Fernando Salas and Jason Motte pitching one scoreless inning apiece to preserve the win and move St. Louis to within 5 1/2 games of the Braves in the wildcard hunt. The Cards pulled within six games of first place Milwaukee when the Brewers lost in extra innings to Philadelphia.

The Cardinals got to Atlanta starter Derek Lowe (9-14) early, jumping out to a 4-0 lead with two runs in the 1st inning and two more in the 3rd.

Albert Pujols drove in the first run of the night with a base hit in the bottom of the 1st, momentarily upping his batting average to .299 on the season. He finished the game at .297. The RBI was number 88 on the season for the Cardinals slugger, who has hit over .300, clubbed more than 30 home runs, and drove in more than 100 runs in his first ten seasons as a major leaguer.

David Freese got in on the 1st inning fun with a run scoring double that made it 2-0.

Back to back doubles by Matt Holliday and Lance Berkman in the 3rd increased the lead to 3-0, then Cards catcher Yadier Molina drove in another run with a base hit for a 4-0 lead.

The Braves chipped away against Garcia, scoring two in the top of the 4th on Freddie Freeman’s 19th home run of the year. That cut the lead in half, 4-2. Brian McCann drove in a run with a base hit in the 5th to cut the Cards advantage to a single run.

Atlanta made it interesting in the 9th. After Martin Prado flied out to center, Motte walked Jason Heyward. Pinch hitter Chipper Jones then flied out to left. With Michael Bourn batting, Heyward darted for second. Molina’s throw went into centerfield, allowing the tying run to advance to third. But Bourn flied out to end the game, and Motte picked up his fourth save of the season.

Cards manager Tony LaRussa is careful not to use the term “pennant race” yet when describing the situation with his team. When asked what tomorrow’s game against Atlanta represents, LaRussa said “What it represents is what it should represent for the last, how many games have we got, 17 now? Every time you take the field you do the very best you can to win, and if we run off some wins, we’re going to keep this thing alive. Tomorrow is just the next chance to play as good as we can and as hard as we can.” 

The Cardinals will go for the sweep against Atlanta Sunday afternoon. Jake Westbrook (11-8) takes the mound for St. Louis. He’ll be opposed by the Braves’ Tim Hudson (14-9). A ceremony marking the 10 year anniversary of 9-11 will take place before the game.

Tuesday night the St. Louis Cardinals finally got the Edwin Jackson they traded Colby Rasmus to acquire, and then some; the starter allowed just one run over seven innings, didn’t walk a batter, and drove in the team’s first run with a bases-loaded single to top the Milwaukee Brewers, putting the on-the-edge Cardinals to 9.5 games back in the National League Central. Jon Jay drove in the other run for the Cardinals, who improved to 71-64. Shaun Marcum, who didn’t allow a single earned run, was the hard-luck loser; he falls to 11-5 on the season.

The middle of the Cardinals’ order was 0-10, but the back of the order, including recently dropped shortstop Rafael Furcal, delivered in the fifth inning after taking advantage of two fifth-inning errors. Jackson, following up a Yadier Molina single, broke through with a single, and Jon Jay scored Furcal with a sacrifice fly to end the scoring for St. Louis. 

Jake Westbrook and Randy Wolf will meet Wednesday to continue the series, which ends with the Cardinals sending rookie Brandon Dickson—currently still a member of the Memphis Redbirds—up against Brewers ace Yovani Gallardo. Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia is being skipped in the rotation after a rough August that featured a 6.84 ERA. 

(Sports Network) – Two teams reduced to also-ran status in the National
League Central get together to begin a four-game series when the Pittsburgh
Pirates visit the St. Louis Cardinals tonight at Busch Stadium.

Both the Pirates and Cardinals held the lead in the division earlier this
season but have plummeted since, falling 15 1/2 and 10 games, respectively,
behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers.

On Wednesday in Pittsburgh, Aaron Thompson combined with three other pitchers
on a five-hit shutout as the Pirates took a 2-0 win over Milwaukee to split a
four-game series.

Thompson made his MLB debut and over 4 1/3 innings he gave up four hits and
two walks with a strikeout. Jason Grilli (1-0) pitched 2 2/3 perfect innings
to get the win while Jose Veras and Joel Hanrahan each worked an inning with
Hanrahan getting his 32nd save of the season.

Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker each had a sacrifice fly for the Pirates, who
had dropped five of seven coming into the game.

In St. Louis, Juan Rivera hit a two-run homer and drove in two as the Los
Angeles Dodgers took a 9-4 win over the Cardinals to sweep a three-game
series.

It was L.A.’s first road three-game sweep of the Cardinals since August 1993.

Gerald Laird hit a two-run homer and Skip Schumaker went 4-for-4 with an RBI
and a run scored for the Cardinals, who have lost five of their last six
games.

Jaime Garcia (10-7) dropped his third straight decision after allowing seven
runs on nine hits over just five innings.

Getting the call for St. Louis tonight will be right-hander Edwin Jackson,
who’s 2-0 in three career starts against the Pirates with a 3.79 earned run
average in 19 innings.

Jackson started the season with 19 appearances for the Chicago White Sox
before heading to the Cardinals at the trading deadline. He’s 2-2 in five
starts since the deal, beating the Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies, while
losing to Milwaukee and the Cubs.

He was 7-7 with the White Sox with a 3.92 ERA.

Jackson’s given up three runs or less seven times in his last 10 starts while
pitching at least six innings nine times.

For the Pirates, righty Charlie Morton can extend a four-start unbeaten
streak. The 27-year-old last lost on July 29 at Philadelphia, when he was
touched for nine hits and eight runs in four innings of a 10-3 loss.

He’s won once and gotten three no-decisions since while surrendering just
three combined runs in 28 1/3 innings against the Cubs, San Francisco,
Milwaukee and Cincinnati.

The Pirates are 2-2 in the four games.

Morton is 2-3 in seven lifetime starts against the Cardinals with a 6.21 ERA.

Pittsburgh is 5-4 versus the Cardinals this season.

The Sports Network

Clayton Kershaw won his National League-leading 16th game and Rod Barajas homered twice in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 13-2 victory over the fast-fading St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night.

Kyle Lohse (11-8) was rocked for a season-worst eight runs in three innings, an impossible deficit against the 23-year-old Kershaw, who struck out eight in six scoreless innings. The Cardinals have lost six of eight and dropped a season-high 10 games behind the NL Central-leading Brewers.

Matt Kemp hit a three-run homer in the first and Barajas had a solo homer in the third and three-run shot in the fifth for his 11th multihomer game, also giving him four in five games. The Dodgers hit a season-high four homers while winning consecutive games in St. Louis for the first time since July 9-10, 2003, and will go for a three-game sweep on Wednesday behind Hiroki Kuroda.

Kershaw (16-6) is 8-1 with a 1.21 ERA in his last nine starts and hiked his NL-leading strikeout total to 207. The Cardinals threatened twice, but Kershaw struck out Matt Holliday and Lance Berkman with two on to end the first and struck out the side in the fourth to negate a double, infield hit and walk.

Kemp also doubled and scored in the second and needs one homer to become the second player in franchise history with 30 homers and 30 steals. Barajas is batting .381 (16-for-42) in August with five homers, three doubles and 16 RBIs in 13 games.

Yadier Molina and Rafael grounded into double plays to give the Cardinals 139 on the year, by far the most in the majors. Second baseman Skip Schumaker pitched the ninth and surrendered a solo homer to Aaron Miles, who had been the last Cardinals position player to pitch, twice last season.

Lohse had been 5-1 with a 2.98 ERA against NL West opponents before coming up empty, with half of the Dodgers’ eight hits for extra bases. The right-hander had won his previous three decisions.

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa passed on a chance to cut into Kershaw’s cushion when he allowed reliever Mitchell Boggs to bat with two outs and the bases loaded in the fourth. Boggs struck out on three pitches.

Notes: Kuroda (9-14, 2.88) has won his last two decisions heading into Wednesday’s matchup against Jaime Garcia (10-6, 3.45), who’s struggled this month with a 5.48 ERA. … Cardinals RHP Jason Motte has made 27 consecutive appearances without allowing an earned run. … St. Louis SS made an outstanding play in the hole, going into the hole and making a strong throw that just beat Juan Rivera. … Kershaw reached 200 strikeouts the seventh earliest date in franchise history. Sandy Koufax has the five fastest, three of them in July.

By Dan Moore

– Managing Editor

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Aug 22, 2011 – 8.5 games behind the surging Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central, the St. Louis Cardinals find themselves engaged in yet another must-win series Monday as the Los Angeles Dodgers come to Busch Stadium for a three-game series. Chris Carpenter, Kyle Lohse, and Jaime Garcia will take the mound for the Cardinals, who will face top Dodger dogs Clayton Kershaw and Hiroki Kuroda in games two and three. 

The Cardinals could be without one of their two Dodgers shortstop imports early in the series, as Rafael Furcal continues to feel the effects of a sprained thumb suffered pre-game in the Cardinals’ series with the Cubs. Ryan Theriot, the former Dodger Furcal replaced, could start in his absence, although the team seems to see him primarily as a second baseman after an awful defensive season. 

The Cardinals are 10-9 in August after going 24-28 in June and July, but the rebound hasn’t been enough to catch the surging Brewers. The two teams will play six games head-to-head in the final month of the season. 

Read More: Kyle Lohse (P – STL), Rafael Furcal (SS – STL), Chris Carpenter (P – STL), Hiroki Kuroda (P – LOS), Jaime Garcia (P – STL), Clayton Kershaw (P – LOS), St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers

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Colorado won its first two Sunday games against the Pirates and Cubs, but has come up empty since beating Chicago on April 17.

“It’s kind of mind-boggling,” shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. “I don’t think there’s anything to it, it’s just one of those things where it hasn’t worked out.”

Colorado manager Jim Tracy said the difference this Sunday was a lack of clutch hitting. The Rockies were 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position and 3 for 15 with runners on base.

“The question that I’m trying to make sense out of even more so is those opportunities offensively that have escaped us, where you’ve got multiple runners and you come away with nothing,” Tracy said. “You’ve got people coming up there that you would absolutely want up there in those kinds of scenarios.”

Yadier Molina had three hits, a walk and two RBIs for St. Louis, which took two of three from Colorado. The Cardinals remained five games behind NL Central-leading Milwaukee with 42 games to go, six of them against the Brewers.

Mark Ellis homered in the first for the Rockies, who have lost four of five. Esmil Rogers (6-2) issued a career-high seven walks, one intentional, in five innings. Colorado has lost six of seven in St. Louis and trails the series 82-81.

Pujols passed teammate Lance Berkman during a three-hit game with his National League-leading 29th homer in the first, a two-run drive estimated at 465 feet that soared over the visitor’s bulllpen and cleared the left field bleachers. The homer sparked a four-run first that matched the Cardinals’ season best for that inning.

Jason Motte entered with a 3-0 count against Ty Wigginton and two men on with one out in the sixth after Jackson was hurt during his 98th pitch, an injury the team described late in the game as a cramp. Wigginton flied out on a full count, and Chris Ianetta hit a comebacker to end the threat.

The Rockies loaded the bases with one out in the seventh against two pitchers and their 4-5 hitters coming up before being thwarted by Octavio Dotel, who struck out Tulowitzki and caught Todd Helton looking on a curveball. The 37-year-old Dotel retired five in a row, four on strikeouts.

“I wasn’t sitting on anything,” Tulowitzki said. “I was relaxed, put a good swing on it. Sometimes it doesn’t go your way, it’s just kind of how it’s been.

“We haven’t got that big hit when needed but I love to be up in that situation.”

Molina and Skip Schumaker gave the Cardinals breathing room with run-scoring singles in the seventh off Edgar Gonzalez, making his first major league appearance since Sept. 27, 2009, when he was with Oakland.

Jackson (2-1) has a 4.62 ERA in four starts over 25 1-3 innings with six homers since coming to St. Louis in a deal that sent outfielder Colby Rasmus to the Blue Jays. The right-hander needed 37 pitches to get through the first inning but trailed only 2-0 after striking out Ianetta with the bases loaded, and allowed two runs in 5 1-3 innings.

The first four Cardinals to reach base scored against Rogers. But St. Louis left the bases loaded in the third when Rafael Furcal flied out on the first pitch after Rogers walked Jackson and stranded two in the fifth when Skip Schumaker grounded into a double play.

Though Rogers has a 6.00 ERA, he lost for the first time since April 18 against the Giants.

Notes: Furcal turned an exceptional double play at shortstop in the fourth, snaring Ianetta’s grounder behind second, reaching back to tag second and then finishing with a strong relay. … The Cardinals begin a three-game series at Pittsburgh on Monday night, with Jake Westbrook (9-6, 4.74) facing James McDonald (7-6, 4.24) in the opener. Westbrook has a 75.5 percent ground ball ratio, best in the majors, since joining the Cardinals at the trade deadline last season. … Kevin Milwood (0-1, 3.86) makes his second start for the Rockies, who return home to face the Marlins and Clay Hensley (1-4, 4.50).

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