The St. Louis Cardinals are about to get another left-hander for the bullpen, although Lance Painter isn’t sure how much help he’ll be.
Painter, on the disabled list with an injured left leg since late July, said Sunday he’ll be activated Tuesday in time for the start of the team’s three-game series against the Colorado Rockies. He’s going to try to pitch even though he has little control of his left foot.
Until Friday, Painter had been rehabbing at home in Phoenix from what was believed to be a torn calf muscle. Frustrated by a lack of progress, he returned to St. Louis on Friday, where team medical personnel examined the injury and said he couldn’t worsen the situation by attempting to play.
“We’ve got three weeks left and we’re two games out,” Painter said. “I’ve got to give it a shot. They’ve said I can’t do any more damage, and you just want to try to help.”
Painter has pitched only 18 innings this year, with an 0-1 record and 5.00 ERA. He’s also spent time on the DL with a torn hamstring.
Rockies’ Wilson has back spasms
Colorado outfielder Preston Wilson left Sunday’s game against Los Angeles because of back spasms.
Wilson, leading the majors with 128 RBIs, batted twice and departed after three innings.
He was listed as day-to-day.
Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said Wilson began experiencing the spasms after backing into the center-field wall to catch Jeromy Burnitz’s long fly ball in the first inning.
“When he continued to move around, he just started getting some spasms,” Hurdle said. “He wanted to continue, but it wouldn’t have been worth it.”
SUNDAY’S GAMES
RESULTS, SYNOPSIS
Florida 3 at Montreal-* 1
W: Willis (12-6)
L: Vazquez (12-10)
S: Looper (27)
Dontrelle Willis pitched 3-hit ball into the eighth inning while striking out six. Expos’ Javier Vazquez looked sharp before losing control in the sixth inning and giving up 4 consecutive hits.
Pittsburgh 1 at Atlanta 2
W: Hampton (13-7)
L: Wells (7-8)
S: Cunnane (1) Javy Lopez hit a tie-breaking homer in the seventh inning and Mike Hampton pitched 4-hit ball over eight innings. He allowed just one hit over his final five innings.
Cincinnati 0 at St. Louis 9
W: Morris (10-6)
L: Etherton (2-3)
Matt Morris pitched no-hit ball into the seventh inning and finished with a 3-hitter. Fernando Vina had four hits, and Orlando Palmeiro and Mike Matheny homered.
Los Angeles 6 at Colorado 2
W: Alvarez (4-1)
L: Jimenez (1-8)
S: Gagne (49)
Adrian Beltre drove in three runs and had four hits as Rockies were handed their eighth straight loss. They are 1-13 in last 14. Dodgers’ Shawn Green had two RBIs, including a solo HR.
Arizona 9 at San Francisco 6
W: Gonzalez (2-1)
L: Nathan (9-4)
S: Patterson (1)
Pinch-hitter Danny Bautista hit a tie-breaking 2-run single to highlight a 5-run eighth inning. Steve Finley, who had four hits, doubled to tie game at 6 and Luis Gonzalez had an RBI single.
Houston 1 at San Diego 7
W: Peavy (11-10)
L: Miller (12-12)
Brian Giles hit 1st homer for the Padres. Gary Bennett hit a 3-run double in the sixth and Ramon Vazquez had an RBI single. Jake Peavy held Astros to one run and two hits over six innings.
N.Y. Mets 4 at Philadelphia 5
W: Cormier (6-0)
L: Wheeler (1-3)
Marlon Byrd’s bases-loaded single in the 11th inning gave Phils 6th straight win. Nick Punto’s RBI single in 9th tied it at 4 for Phillies, who had been 0-51 when trailing after eight innings.
*-at San Juan
