Cards Notes: Renteria Ends Up Starting
La Russa reconsiders giving shortstop day off
By Matthew Leach / MLB.com
September 12, 2004
LOS ANGELES -- The lineup came down to the wire on Sunday for the Cardinals. Barely an hour before the start of St. Louis' game against the Dodgers, no lineup card had been posted. The team's staff was collectively pondering whether or not to start Edgar Renteria.
The All-Star shortstop carried a slump into Sunday's contest, but he's one of very few Cardinals who have had any success against Los Angeles starter Hideo Nomo. Renteria entered the game with a 12-for-36 (.333) mark vs. Nomo.
Hector Luna was already slated to play third base in place of the injured Scott Rolen. So in order to sit Renteria, manager Tony La Russa would have had to shift Luna to shortstop and play John Mabry at third, but Mabry's career numbers against Nomo -- 3-for-18 -- made than an unappealing option.
La Russa also said that Renteria was feeling somewhat sore after landing strangely on his leg after a play in the eighth inning on Saturday. Still, given the various circumstances, the call went to Renteria, who batted fifth and played short.
"I wasn't sure," said La Russa, "but he said he could go."
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