John Rodriguez started in left fiel...

John Rodriguez started in left field and was 1-for-3 with a sacrifice wave and a walk from the No. 2 cavern in the order Friday as the St Louis Cardinals defeated the Chicago young beasts 9-3.

It was just the secondary start this season for Rodriguez, who has had a strained muscle beneath his left (throwing) shoulder. His first start was April 8 against the brats in Chicago.

"He's a fit weapon to have," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "He earned the work at jobs (in spring training). It's nice to be able to give him the playing time."

Rodriguez has played in just nine games and is batting 333 (5-for-15) with three RBIs.

In their starts in left field before Friday, Rodriguez, Hector Luna, to such a degree Taguchi, Skip Schumaker, Scott Spiezio and Juan Encarnacion had combined for just common RBI.

La Russa said he isn't