Cardinal Defense Praised

The St. Louis Cardinals impressed the Dodgers with their defense in sweeping a three-game series at Busch Stadium.

“They have a great lineup, but the key is their defense,” second baseman Alex Cora said. “Their pitchers throw strikes and let their defense do the job, which is pretty similar to what we do, because they know they can.”

Beginning play Sunday, the Dodgers ranked first in the major leagues with a .989 fielding percentage and the Cardinals were third at .986. The Cardinals also were atop baseball with a 3.66 earned-run average, and had scored the most runs in the National League.

“Oh, man, bro, that’s a good team,” pitcher Jose Lima said. “That lineup is tough, real tough, but they also go get the ball.

“That’s what we do too. Believe me, bro, that helps.”

Center fielder Jim Edmonds, third baseman Scott Rolen and shortstop Edgar Renteria are Gold Glove award winners. Cora said that other Cardinals are among the league’s best at their positions.

“They’ve probably got the best defensive center fielder in the league, Edgar is a Gold Glover and Rolen is great, but they’re good at other spots,” Cora said. “Tony [Womack] has improved a lot at second, and [catcher Mike] Matheny is huge for them.

“He knows the game, he knows the league, and he’s great defensively. Those guys are why the pitching staff is so good, besides the offense.

“Their pitchers don’t try to strike people out with men at first. They try to get a ground ball and get two outs with one pitch. That’s what their defense does for them.”

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It appears Manager Jim Tracy plans to reduce the role of struggling first baseman Hee-Seop Choi.

“We have to look at some different options,” Tracy said. “He hasn’t hit the ball all that well.”

In 24 games with the Dodgers, Choi is batting .164 with a .241 slugging percentage, no home runs and five runs batted in. In 118 games with Florida, the left-handed batter hit .254 with a .454 slugging percentage, 15 homers and 45 RBIs.

“He has some adjustments he has to make,” Tracy said. “We have to do what makes the most sense to try to win this division.”

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Odalis Perez (biceps soreness) remains on schedule to start Wednesday against Arizona after completing a pain-free bullpen session Sunday. “It was good,” Perez said. “I’m going to make my next start.”

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Shortstop Cesar Izturis left in the fourth inning because of a stomach irritation, a team spokesman said.... The Dodgers are expected to soon recall Edwin Jackson, who struggled in another rehabilitation start Sunday for triple-A Las Vegas.