Rain makes Carpenter a Game 7 option

ST. LOUIS

The Cardinals had trouble distinguishing between the words “Lynn” and “Motte” in Game 5 of the World Series.

But if the Series goes seven games, manager Tony La Russa will not confuse the words, “Carpenter” and “Lohse.”

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La Russa, speaking after the postponement of Game 6 on Wednesday night, would not confirm right-hander Chris Carpenter as his Game 7 starter, mostly because the Cardinals are facing elimination as they trail, three games to two.

But really, what are La Russa’s options?

He noted that Katy Feeney of Major League Baseball would ask for the Game 7 starter in the interview room Thursday, joking, “If Bob Gibson is there, we’ll send Bob.”

Gibson won’t be there. Carpenter is the closest thing on the current Cardinals, an actual ace.

The Series will resume Thursday night (FOX, 7:30 p.m. ET) with the previously announced matchup between Cardinals lefty Jaime Garcia and Rangers righty Colby Lewis.

The postponement will enable La Russa to start Carpenter on three days rest in Game 7. Not ideal, but still more logical than pitching Lohse on five days rest, righty Edwin Jackson on four or righty Jake Westbrook in his first start in more than a month.

The Rangers would not need to use a pitcher on short rest in Game 7. Manager Ron Washington repeated Wednesday that lefty Matt Harrison would start, working on on five days rest. Lefty Derek Holland would be available in the bullpen on four, presuming that Washington doesn’t burn him in Game 6.

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The question of which team would hold the advantage probably would hinge on Carpenter, who fared poorly in his first career start on short rest in Game 2 of the Division Series, lasting just three innings against the Phillies.

Carpenter told reporters earlier this week that he would be better prepared if the opportunity arose again.

“I (felt) physically good so I tried to pitch like I would on my regular five days,” Carpenter said. “Instead of realizing that this is the day that my stuff is not that sharp and we have to make some stuff up to get through those innings, like back off (pitches) instead of putting more on.

“I think it was just the situation. It’s something I would take into account next time if it ever happens again.”

Next time could be sooner than he imagined.

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La Russa all but ruled out Carpenter in relief for Game 6, saying, “no chance,” before leaving himself an out and saying, “little chance.”

Carpenter, 36, would be on two days rest in Game 6. He already has worked a career-high 267 1/3 innings, including 30 in the postseason. He also has thrown a total of 4,064 pitches in ‘11, second only to Justin Verlander.

“We will not jeopardize an arm,” La Russa said. “It seems like a push to think that he could contribute anything (in Game 6) without jeopardizing his career. Three days rest, I mean, (we’ve) already done that. So we’d all feel better about 7 if we needed him.”

If.

La Russa announced two lineup changes for Game 6, saying that Skip Schumaker would bat second, again playing center field instead of Jon Jay, while Lance Berkman would bat fourth, returning to right in place of Allen Craig.

Schumaker went 1-for-3 with an RBI groundout out of the No. 8 spot in Game 5, his first start of the Series. La Russa clearly is looking for more production at the top of his lineup — the Cardinals’ 1-2 hitters are batting a combined .108/.262/.216 against the Rangers.

Berkman, meanwhile, will move up to cleanup from the fifth spot; a switch-hitter, he should provide better protection for Albert Pujols against the right-handed Lewis than left fielder Matt Holliday, who is 3-for-18 and will bat fifth.

La Russa said Wednesday that Holliday might be rusty after missing time with an inflamed tendon in his right middle finger. The injury prevented Holliday from starting the first two games of the Division Series, but he went 10-for-23 in the NLCS.

“I think the biggest thing is he missed some at-bats leading up to the crunch and in the crunch, and all of a sudden, it’s the most pressure you’ve faced all along,” La Russa said.

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“I do think he’s healthy right now, but he’s trying to catch up. It’s a tough time to catch up. So, we’re trying to say he should slow down a little bit, just don’t force it. I think he’s trying to force it.”

Holliday said he was “fine” physically and noted that he had good at-bats in Game 5, in which he went 1-for-3 with two walks and saw 35 pitches in five plate appearances.

“The more at-bats you have, the better chance you have as far as timing goes,” Holliday said. “But that’s no excuse.”

There are no excuses left, not with the season down to two games, and possibly one.