// a href = ./ //

   ST. LOUIS (AP) - Jake Westbrook pitched a five-hit shutout and the St. Louis Cardinals backed him with four home runs yesterday in routing the Cincinnati Reds 10-0.

   Jon Jay, Carlos Beltran and Matt Adams homered in a span of seven at-bats off Homer Bailey as the Cardinals took two of three from the NL Central champions.

   Matt Carpenter added a two-run homer on a four-hit day. Adams homered for the second straight game and added an RBI double and walk.

   The Cardinals have dominated the Reds at home the last decade, losing just three of 28 series with two splits.

   Westbrook (1-1) threw his fourth career shutout, walking four and striking out three.

 

   ST. LOUIS (AP) - Lance Lynn struck out 10 in six sharp innings and rookie Matt Adams connected for his first career pinch-hit homer as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-1 on Tuesday night.

   Reds starter Bronson Arroyo (1-1) retired the first 15 batters. The Cardinals broke through in the sixth, with Adams hitting a two-run homer and Allen Craig and Carlos Beltran also driving in runs.

   St. Louis bounced back nicely a day after the Reds roughed up the bullpen for nine runs in the ninth inning of a 13-4 rout that made for a sour home opener.

   Brandon Phillips had a sacrifice fly and Shin-Soo Choo had two hits for Cincinnati. The Reds were held to five hits, ending a run of four consecutive games with double-figure hit totals. Choo has four straight two-hit games.

 

Caitlin Schmidt will remember to Cardinals 2013 Home Opener forever.

Schmidt's boyfriend, Zachary Hermann proposed to her during the festivities outside of the stadium Monday afternoon. He popped the question next to the Stan Musial statue. And with family and friends looking on, Caitlin accepted the proposal!

The two plan to get married in August.

FANS CAMP OUT FOR OPENER

Some 50 Cardinal fans set up camp outside Busch Stadium overnight Sunday in anticipation of Monday's home opener against the Cincinnati Reds.

St. Louis Police are advising revelers to leave early because of road changes and closures due to construction of Ballpark Village.  

Fans are encouraged to avoid construction delays by using MetroLink.

Pedestrians should also note that the pedestrian bridge between the Stadium West garage and the ballpark has been removed.  

OTHER CHANGES

8th Street is now a two-way street between Clark and Market with two north and southbound lanes.

Temporary stop signs are currently in place at the intersections of 8th Street and

Clark, as well as 8th Street and Walnut.

Walnut is now a two-way street between 8th Street and Broadway, with one westbound lane and two eastbound lanes.

7th Street is no longer in existence.

 

ADDITIONAL CAUTIONS FROM POLICE:

Those choosing to drive are urged to “park smart”— park in well-lit, populated areas, concealing valuables by placing them in compartments or in the vehicle’s trunk prior to arrival. The department strongly encourages citizens to leave firearms at home. Events such as baseball games are no place for firearms, as they are not allowed inside Busch Stadium and leaving them in a vehicle creates opportunity for criminals. Don’t let yourlegal firearm become an illegal firearm.

Event-goers are also advised to remain aware of their surroundings and if choosing to consume alcohol, are urged to drink responsibly. Criminals often target those who appear to be most vulnerable, including those who might be intoxicated.

There will be a significant law enforcement presence in all areas surrounding Downtown and Busch Stadium. Police strongly encourage anyone who sees criminal or suspicious activity to alert a nearby officer or dial 9-1-1.

 

Caitlin Schmidt will remember to Cardinals 2013 Home Opener forever.

Schmidt's boyfriend, Zachary Hermann proposed to her during the festivities outside of the stadium Monday afternoon. He popped the question next to the Stan Musial statue. And with family and friends looking on, Caitlin accepted the proposal!

The two plan to get married in August.

FANS CAMP OUT FOR OPENER

Some 50 Cardinal fans set up camp outside Busch Stadium overnight Sunday in anticipation of Monday's home opener against the Cincinnati Reds.

St. Louis Police are advising revelers to leave early because of road changes and closures due to construction of Ballpark Village.  

Fans are encouraged to avoid construction delays by using MetroLink.

Pedestrians should also note that the pedestrian bridge between the Stadium West garage and the ballpark has been removed.  

OTHER CHANGES

8th Street is now a two-way street between Clark and Market with two north and southbound lanes.

Temporary stop signs are currently in place at the intersections of 8th Street and

Clark, as well as 8th Street and Walnut.

Walnut is now a two-way street between 8th Street and Broadway, with one westbound lane and two eastbound lanes.

7th Street is no longer in existence.

 

ADDITIONAL CAUTIONS FROM POLICE:

Those choosing to drive are urged to “park smart”— park in well-lit, populated areas, concealing valuables by placing them in compartments or in the vehicle’s trunk prior to arrival. The department strongly encourages citizens to leave firearms at home. Events such as baseball games are no place for firearms, as they are not allowed inside Busch Stadium and leaving them in a vehicle creates opportunity for criminals. Don’t let yourlegal firearm become an illegal firearm.

Event-goers are also advised to remain aware of their surroundings and if choosing to consume alcohol, are urged to drink responsibly. Criminals often target those who appear to be most vulnerable, including those who might be intoxicated.

There will be a significant law enforcement presence in all areas surrounding Downtown and Busch Stadium. Police strongly encourage anyone who sees criminal or suspicious activity to alert a nearby officer or dial 9-1-1.

 

Budweiser is offering a dream prize for one lucky Cardinals fan.

<br><br>

Fans 21 and older can text the word HITCH to 23377 (BEERS) and be entered to win four tickets to the Home Opener on April 8. But how the tickets are delivered is the real prize. The Budweiser Clydesdales will bring the tickets to the winners home and they will be hand-delivered by pitcher Chris Carpenter. This contest is part of promotion for a limited edition of Budweiser cans that celebrate baseball.

<br><br>

More info on the contest can be found at absweeps.com/hitch.

 

JUPITER, FL (AP) - Adam Wainwright and the Cardinals have agreed to a new contract that guarantees the Cardinals' ace an additional $97.5 million over five years through 2018.

   Wainwright had been eligible to become a free agent after the World Series.

   The new agreement, first reported by FoxSports.com, was confirmed by a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because it had not yet been announced. The Cardinals scheduled a news conference today at their spring training camp in Jupiter, Fla.

   A 31-year-old right-hander, Wainwright was 14-13 with a 3.94 ERA last year after missing the Cardinals' World Series championship season in 2011 because of elbow surgery.

   Wainwright was 20-11 with a 2.42 ERA in 2010 and was an NL All-Star.

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) - The St. Louis Cardinals put third baseman David Freese on the 15-day disabled list yesterday because of a lower back strain, and hoped he would heal in time for the home opener April 8 against Cincinnati.

Freese joined St. Louis closer Jason Motte on the DL. The Cardinals earlier this spring lost shortstop Rafael Furcal for the year with an elbow injury and pitcher Chris Carpenter with a potential career-ending nerve injury.

Utilityman Matt Carpenter is expected to start the season at third in place of Freese, the 2011 World Series and NL championship series MVP. Freese, who will be 30 next month, hit .293 with career best of 20 homers, 79 RBIs and 144 games last season.

Carpenter played at five positions last year and added second base this spring. He batted .294 with six homers and 46 RBIs in 296 at-bats last year. Carpenter, 27, has 26 career starts in two seasons at third.

Infielder Ryan Jackson was recalled from Triple-A Memphis. Left-hander Sam Freeman was optioned to Triple-A.

In 12 spring training games, Freese was batting .267 with two home runs and five RBIs. The move was retroactive to Saturday

Jackson was optioned to the minors on March 17 after appearing in 17 spring training games. Freeman made two exhibition appearances.

JUPITER, Fla., March 26, 2013 – The St. Louis Cardinals announced prior to today’s game that they will place third baseman David Freese (lower back strain) on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 23. The Cardinals also announced that they have optioned left-handed pitcher Sam Freeman to the Memphis (AAA) roster and recalled infielder Ryan Jackson from the Memphis roster. Freese had appeared in 12 spring games, batting .267 with 2 home runs and 5 RBI. Jackson was optioned off the Major League roster on March 17. He had appeared in 17 Grapefruit League games prior to that move. Freeman made two spring appearances, the most recent on Sunday, March 24. Today’s roster moves reduces the number of players on the Major League spring roster to 31. The team announced earlier this spring that pitcher Chris Carpenter and shortstop Rafael Furcal had been placed on the disabled list.

Cardinals third baseman David Freese will have an MRI on his back Monday. Freese has had only 15 at bats since falling into the stands going for a foul ball back on March 4th.

Meanwhile the Cardinals started strong, but blew a healthy lead against the Mets Sunday. Jake Westbrook pitched six innings, allowing just two earned runs, but then the bullpen came in and gave up seven runs in the final three innings...The Cards lost to the Mets 10-7.

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Chris Carpenter realizes his baseball career may be over.

The 37 year old right-hander made a surprise appearance at the St. Louis Cardinals' spring-training camp yesterday and said he's still dealing with numbing and tingling sensations in his pitching hand, arm and shoulder.

Asked if he wanted to continue pitching, the former Cy Young Award winner said, "I do. I just don't think I can."