ST. LOUIS -- Ryan Ludwick made his first start of the season in center field Wednesday night for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa employed an all-right-handed-hitting lineup against talented Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw (8-5, 2.96 ERA).
"This guy's blowing (away) hitters from both sides," La Russa said of Kershaw, who had 110 strikeouts in 112 2/3 innings. "I don't want to run (Rick) Ankiel out there yet and I don't think it's a good time for (Colby) Rasmus, so we'll play this outfield and give each guy three at-bats and play defense later for if we have to.
"But we're going to try to score some runs today. Tonight's just not a fair assignment for Colby because this guy beats the heck out of left-handed hitters. (Rasmus) hasn't been hitting against a lot of left-handers, so this is not a fair assignment."
Ankiel missed his second straight start after suffering a slight groin strain in the Cardinals' 6-1 win Monday. Ludwick was flanked by Matt Holliday in left and Nick Stavinoha in right Wednesday.
Ludwick started 10 games in center field last season. La Russa said he told Ludwick he was in center only because Joel Pineiro of the Cardinals was a groundball pitcher. The truth is, Ludwick's legs are holding up better than either of his previous two seasons in St. Louis.
"Before I ever had to ask him --which I would have before he left (Tuesday night) --he commented to Barry (Weinberg, the team's head athletic trainer) about how good his legs feel," La Russa said. "So if he had a problem, I'd run Colby out there or Schu (Skip Schumaker). I probably would have played Schu."
Even though he didn't start, Ankiel told La Russa he was much better.
"I'll be really careful today. I may play him tomorrow," La Russa said.
No concern about Pujols
First baseman Albert Pujols is just 10-for-42 (.238) with two homers and four RBIs since the All-Star break. His other eight hits in that stretch are singles.
"It's a sign of a long season and a cycle. He'll bust out of it today," La Russa said.
Pujols is batting .286 in July (31-for-97). He is 4-for-20 since Holliday was acquired from Oakland on Friday.
If history repeats itself, Pujols will heat up for the stretch run. Last August, he batted .398 (39-for-98) with 10 doubles, eight homers and 22 RBIs. He followed that up with a .321 mark in September (27-for-84) that included eight homers and 27 RBIs.
Less time for Schu?
Despite the arrival of hot-hitting Julio Lugo, La Russa doesn't foresee less playing time in the immediate future for Schumaker at second base.
Schumaker has been rested against left-handers at various points this season, although his production against them has improved to .229 (16-for-70). Lugo played second base Wednesday, although he was just 1-for-8 in two previous games with the Cardinals against lefties.
"If a left-hander was holding left-handed hitters under .200, he didn't play second base. It (playing time) has really been exactly the same," La Russa said. "So far, it hasn't been different because of the type of pitcher. I'm not saying it won't be different. This guy (Kershaw) and (Randy) Wolf, you don't want to put left-handed hitters out there against them."
La Russa maintains Schumaker has made dramatic strides against lefties. Last year, he batted .168 against them.
"Every one of our guys --Ankiel, Chris (Duncan) when he was here, Colby --there isn't any one of them that should have any special problem with left-handers," La Russa said. "Even last year with Schu, we said it all the time, he hangs in there. This year, he's done better."
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