McGwire Missing From Cardinal Party

Mark McGwire’s aching back was the only bad news for the St. Louis Cardinals on opening day.

McGwire, sidelined for the last two spring training games because of a lower back strain, was a late lineup scratch Monday. McGwire reinjured his back running before the Cardinals’ 7-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

“He zig-zagged, and one of the zigs he felt a catch back there and he knew it,” Manager Tony La Russa said. “So we’ll treat it and see how he is on Wednesday.”

McGwire left Busch Stadium in the third inning and underwent an MRI exam at Barnes Hospital. The test showed no disk problems.

His replacement at first base, Craig Paquette, lined a three-run homer in the first inning, and his replacement in the cleanup slot, Fernando Tatis, also had an RBI single, a walk and two steals.

“That’s kind of my job, to be ready whenever,” said Paquette, who found out he was starting five minutes before game time. “Knowing he had a bad back, and that there was a chance with the cold weather I might get in there, I was prepared.”

The other half of the latest McGwire-Sammy Sosa faceoff also was quiet. Cardinal starter Darryl Kile struck out Sosa twice and also got him on an infield popout. Sosa, two for 11 with no homers, also struck out in his final at-bat.

He wasn’t blaming jet lag after the Cubs’ season-opening trip to Japan.

“I don’t believe in that,” Sosa said. “The guy pitched a great game and I’ve got to tip my hat to him. We haven’t gotten it together yet, but we will.”