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LAD@STL: Wainwright wins it with arm, bat vs. Dodgers

In his first start since being called up from Triple-A Nashville last week, Brewers pitcher Mark Rogers delivered a solid outing, allowing two runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings.

So when the 26-year-old right-hander takes the mound at Busch Stadium for his second start on Saturday, he doesn't figure to change much for the Cardinals.

"I feel like I need to pitch to my strengths," Rogers said. "Obviously, we go over a scouting report, and I have an idea and a plan of attack for every hitter. But ultimately, it comes down to my stuff and being aggressive with my stuff and trusting my stuff when I throw it up there. I feel like if I can throw my pitches with conviction, that's going to give me the best opportunity to have success.

Saturday will mark Rogers' first outing against the Cardinals, who will be playing their second straight game without first baseman Lance Berkman. After apparently hurting himself running out a groundball on Thursday against the Rockies, Berkman was placed on the 15-day disabled list with right knee inflammation.

Fortunately for St. Louis, Allen Craig is poised to replace Berkman. Craig, who has actually had better numbers than Berkman this season, went 2-for-5 on Friday to bump his average to .298. And with Craig playing well, even Berkman admitted worse things could have happened.

"It probably makes it a lot easier on [manager Mike Matheny] because the reality is that we have a logjam," Berkman said. "Allen needs to play. Carlos [Beltran and Matt [Holliday] are having MVP-type seasons. And Jon Jay needs to play center field. It's one of those things where there's a surplus of guys here, there's a luxury to be able to undertake something like this where you don't really have to play through it."

Matheny will send Adam Wainwright to the mound on Saturday. Despite surrendering just two runs in six innings in his last start, Wainwright didn't figure in the decision and said he hoped to have at least one aspect of his attack improved before taking on the Brewers.

"I'm going to work hard in between starts to get [his fastball command] right." Wainwright said. "My fastball command has been my weakest part of my last two games.

Brewers: Saturday return possible for Ramirez
Brewers manager Ron Roenicke is hopeful third baseman Aramis Ramirez can return to the lineup on Saturday after sitting out his second game in the last week with a sore left wrist.

Ramirez received a cortisone shot on Thursday, and he hopes the veteran third baseman can play pain free from here on out.

"He's been fighting this thing for a while, and it doesn't look like it's going to go away," Roenicke said. "I've tried to give him a day off, and it doesn't seem to completely get rid of it. Hopefully he won't have to deal with it the rest of the year."

Cardinals: Furcal, Molina back in lineup Friday
The Cardinals returned two important pieces of the puzzle on Friday, as Rafael Furcal (lower back stiffness) and Yadier Molina (right thumb bruise) came back after short breaks.

Furcal wanted to play against the Rockies earlier this week, but he didn't return until team physician Dr. George Paletta cleared him in St. Louis. For Molina, an X-ray confirmed he didn't have a fractured thumb from sliding into first base on Wednesday. Instead, he was diagnosed with a bone bruise, which was a big relief for Molina.

"It feels OK," Molina said. "I was thinking it was something worse. Thank God it's only a bruise."

While Furcal struggled in his return, Molina went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. That likely wasn't a surprise to Brewers manager Ron Roenicke, who said before the game he never likes to see Molina come to the plate.

"He's very difficult to pitch to because there's no main holes that you can go to consistently," he said. "You may get him out one time on a fastball, then the next time you try to go there and he may take you deep."

Worth Noting
• The Brewers dropped to 18-31 on the road with Friday's loss. They'll need a win Saturday to avoid losing their 12th road series of the season.

• Despite beating the Brewers in the National League Championship Series, the Cardinals are on track to have a winning regular season record against Milwaukee for the first time since 2007.

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