ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Mark Grudzielanek was hospitalized overnight with a knee infection and will not travel with the Cardinals for the start of a four-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Grudzielanek had a previous injury to his left knee that became worse Saturday when he slid safely home on a squeeze play during the Cardinals’ 4-2 win over the San Francisco Giants.
The knee swelled and Grudzielanek spent the night at Barnes-Jewish Hospital West in St. Louis County. He was discharged Sunday but was not at the game.
Manager Tony La Russa said Grudzielanek will be sidelined “a couple of days and it may be longer. We’ll just keep our fingers crossed.”
Grudzielanek, 35, signed with St. Louis in the offseason as a free agent after Tony Womack left for the New York Yankees.
He is hitting .303 with seven homers and 48 RBIs and has made just five errors at second base. He and shortstop David Eckstein, also new to St. Louis this season, have been a big reason the Cardinals have turned 157 double plays — three more than all of last season.
|
Third baseman Scott Rolen has a shoulder injury and the Cardinals said Sunday he will have season-ending surgery this week. Outfielder Reggie Sanders has a broken right leg and won’t return until September, and catcher Yadier Molina and outfielder Larry Walker returned in the past week after long stays on the disabled list.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
DeMarco: Plug in a well-heeled ownership group and negotiate one of those mega-bucks TV deals that are going around, and the Dodgers could become the west coast version of the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox.
HardballTalk headlines |
Interactive |
Slideshow |
Unbreakable records in baseball A look at the most unbreakable records in baseball including Nolan Ryan's seven no-hitters. |
Slideshow |
The top tools of baseball You hear a lot about the tools of baseball, but who are the best hitters, fielders and pitchers? We break it down. more photos |