--1B Albert Pujols' ninth home run of the season was his 99th at the current Busch Stadium. Only seven players have 100 or more home runs in their current ball parks. Pujols, hitting only .262, was 3-for-22 before his home run, his first at Busch since April 23. Manager Tony La Russa said: "He's hit the ball a lot better than his average."

--OF Jon Jay, who had a nine-game hitting streak, was taken out of the lineup to make room for LF Matt Holliday, who was making his first start since May 22 when he suffered a recurrence of a strained left quadriceps. Jay, who had hit .415 in his streak to move to .346 for the season, saw his streak end with a pinch-hit groundout in the seventh. "It's a good problem to have," La Russa said of his outfield of Holliday, Lance Berkman, Colby Rasmus and Jay.

--INF/OF Allen Craig, normally an outfielder-first baseman, got another start at second base and hit two doubles to raise his average to .330. Craig, who began playing the position when regular 2B Skip Schumaker still was out because of a triceps injury, hasn't hurt the Cardinals with his defense, although La Russa admitted it was a work in progress and he will continue to take Craig out if the Cardinals are ahead after five innings. "He's doing this thing on an emergency basis," La Russa said. "There are some defensive things that he needs (to work on) ... but we'll just break him in slowly.'

--2B Skip Schumaker has been slow to round into form after being taken off the disabled list and La Russa said Schumaker probably could have used more time in Florida to strengthen his legs and get more at-bats. Schumaker, summoned when LF Matt Holliday (quad injury) and C Gerald Laird (broken index finger) were injured the same day, is 2-for- 16 since his return.

--SS Ryan Theriot extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a third-inning double Monday. His hitting streak, during which he is 19- for-55. is the longest active streak in the National League.

BY THE NUMBERS
7 -- Runs allowed by RHP Kyle McClellan in four innings Monday. It was the most runs McClellan has allowed in a game although, for his first three seasons in the majors, he was a reliever.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"It's less and less miserable every day." -- Manager Tony La Russa, on his face and head as recovers from a long bout with shingles.

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