Renteria Questionable
By Joe Strauss Of The Post-Dispatch
June 10, 2004
Shortstop Edgar Renteria was questionable for Wednesday's game until virtually the first pitch because of a flu-like condition that forced him to return to the team hotel Tuesday. Renteria was so drained by the condition he said he fell asleep twice while watching on television and didn't even learn of right fielder Roger Cedeno's eighth-inning ejection until watching highlights later.
Renteria took fluids Wednesday morning, pushed through his pregame routine and then set a modest goal of playing three innings in the afternoon's oppressive heat and humidity. "I was having a tough time," he said. "I was just going inning to inning."
In the fourth, Renteria hit a two-out grand slam off Cubs starting pitcher Mark Prior, his fourth home run this season and his first against a righthanded pitcher. "Once you get out there you don't think about how you feel," Renteria said. "You think about playing the game. When it's over, you think about how you feel. Later in the game I didn't feel so well." La Russa lifted Renteria in the ninth inning with the Cardinals leading by eight runs. By then, the shortstop had extended his hitting streak to nine games, all with one hit apiece. He was intentionally walked and scored in the eighth.
"It doesn't matter if I feel good or bad. I get one hit a game, no more, no less," said Renteria, who lost a hit on a solid play by Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez in the first inning. "That's all I can do."
Back to 2004 Articles Page