by BY JOE STRAUSS ¿ jstrauss@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8371 , St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Facing his second hitter since leaving a June 3 start against the Cincinnati Reds with a strained right forearm muscle, Lohse surrendered a solo home run to the Frisco right fielder only moments into his rehab assignment with the Springfield Cardinals .

"That kind of shakes you up a little bit," Lohse said with a half-grin. "It reminds you, 'OK, let's focus here.'"

Nine years after his first taste of Double-A, Lohse found Thursday's sip both satisfying and sobering.

After struggling through a 25-pitch first inning, Lohse cruised through the next three, then tired while encountering turbulence in his final frame.

Lohse left with the bases loaded (clean single, bunt hit, walk) after 4 2/3 innings and was charged with a second run when a reliever's wild pitch allowed Frisco a 2-0 lead.

"The last inning I got a little tired and obviously wasn't too sharp," reflected Lohse, who got within one offering of his prescribed 80-pitch limit. "Overall, for the first time out, it was OK. After awhile I felt pretty good."

Lohse allowed three hits and walked four against two strikeouts while mixing 44 strikes among 79 pitches. He initially felt ill-at-ease with his delivery but found a rhythm while getting nine outs with 35 pitches in his middle three innings.

Moreland turned around a 1-0 fastball for his third home run in 34 games.

"The first inning I was just trying to get my feet under me, figuring out what I used to do," said Lohse, who threw a Monday side session and a simulated game last week to prep for Thursday's outing. "I'm not used to having a month off then getting out there and being competitive. The next three innings were great. I thought the ball was coming out good. In the fifth I was getting a little tired. Hopefully, we'll get better from here on out."

Lohse heavily implied he would return to the Cardinals' rotation during a July 12 split doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs. He will travel to Cincinnati today, meet with pitching coach Dave Duncan and bullpen coach Marty Mason, throw a side session Saturday, then await a verdict.

"When you look at the schedule, you ask whether it helps the team more Tuesday, Wednesday or Sunday. There's an off day (Monday). It'll probably end up being Sunday. If they feel I should make another (rehab start) I'll make another one."

The Cardinals received good news from Todd Wellemeyer's strong start Thursday. Coupled with next week's off day, there appears little reason to hustle Lohse back from his first trip to the disabled list within a 9-year career.

For now, his season remains frozen at 4-4 with a 3.99 ERA. He was 3-0 with a 1.97 ERA in April before back stiffness and a series of on-field pratfalls slowed him physically. Lohse lasted only two-plus innings in his last start and allowed 18 earned runs in 24 1/3 innings covering his last five starts.

Lohse showed the most rust trying to command a fastball that rarely topped 90 mph. He was more encouraged by his off-speed assortment that allowed him to save pitches.

"The first time out I feel like I could've thrown different pitches, fooled everybody and had a perfect fifth inning. But I needed to work on throwing fastballs," he said.

After pushing to take his June 3 turn after failing to complete a side session in San Francisco five days earlier, Lohse is admittedly comfortable taking a conservative approach.

"The thing I learned coming out of that is if there's a question physically, it's better to be on the safe side. I learned that the hard way. I thought I could go out there and get through it. One bad play and I ended up on the DL," he said. "Now health is not a question. It's a matter of whether I can go out there and help the team with my pitching."

Lohse insisted he felt no leftover twinge in his right forearm. He was less satisfied with his stamina and his command.

"I'm competitive. I feel I can go out there and get it done with what I had today. But it probably wouldn't hurt to take the pitch count up more," he said.

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