Encarnacion struggles mightily in his opening days with Cards

ST. LOUIS -- The highlight of Juan Encarnacion's first week and a half with his new team is something that nearly happened.

The St. Louis Cardinals' top free-agent pickup in the offseason got a three-year, $15 million contract to take over for the retired Larry Walker in right field. So far, his play has led to grumbling that he's "Tino 2," referring to the recent, unsatisfying and mostly unproductive two-year stint of Tino Martinez.

"Everything is going wrong," Encarnacion said. "There's no excuses. It's part of the game."

Encarnacion came close to a game-winning home run on Thursday, foiled when Brewers left fielder Carlos Lee leaped high over the Busch Stadium wall and came down with the ball. Robbed of that, he's been held to a quiet .227 average with one double and one RBI on an infield groundout. He also dropped a fly ball that nearly cost the Cardinals a victory.

On Sunday, he muffed a routine soft liner that would have almost certainly resulted in an inning-ending double play, and the next batter, Rich Aurilia, hit a two-run, eighth-inning double that put the Brewers ahead. Albert Pujols' two-run ninth-inning homer rescued him from goat's horns.

Encarnacion also got caught stealing in the bottom of the eighth, although La Russa said it was a botched hit and run. Last week, he got doubled off first on a flyout in Chicago.

Encarnacion got a day off on Sunday, perhaps to allow him to relax, before entering in a double switch.

Last year, Encarnacion batted .287 with 16 homers and 76 RBIs for the Florida Marlins. He had 19 homers and 94 RBIs for Florida in 2003.

"I'm encouraged by what talent he has and the career he has had," La Russa said. "There have been some criticisms, some of the fans are getting a little impatient and we've been playing so long now."