Stottlemyre Calls on Experience

He had pitched in nine postseason games with the Toronto Blue Jays. The result: 0-3 with a 7.50 earned-run average.

Todd Stottlemyre’s analysis: “Too intense, too emotional, tried to do too much.”

A learning experience that Stottlemyre said he drew on for motivation Tuesday as he registered his first postseason win.

He pitched 6 2/3 strong innings for the St. Louis Cardinals in a 3-1 victory over the San Diego Padres.

Stottlemyre was 14-11 after being acquired from Oakland in January on one of the several winter shuttles between the two teams.

He carried the maturity and experience of those previous postseasons with him Tuesday, as well as a Monday night phone message from former Toronto and Oakland teammate Dave Stewart, who has helped Stottlemyre learn to control his emotions.

Stottlemyre wouldn’t reveal the nature of the message but said: “Stew is a special friend. He was a big game pitcher who helped me a lot.”

The only run off Stottlemyre Tuesday was produced by another Toronto and Oakland teammate, Rickey Henderson, who homered in the sixth.

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Ray Lankford, the Cardinal center fielder who tore his left rotator cuff Friday, was able to raise his arm above his shoulder Tuesday. It was enough of an improvement to win Lankford a roster spot for the division series, and Manager Tony LaRussa said: “I don’t know when he’ll be able to throw, but I feel certain that by [Game 3 on] Saturday he’ll be able to hit.”

Added LaRussa: “I don’t know if that means he’ll be able to play a game, but he’s a weapon the Padres have to worry about coming off the bench. He’s enough of a weapon even as a pinch runner.”