Mabry gets the call, but game rained out

ST. LOUIS -- Big numbers in the minor leagues earned John Mabry his third stint with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Cardinals on Tuesday purchased Mabry's contract from Triple-A Memphis, where he was batting .338 with 12 home runs and 35 RBIs in 39 games, and plan to put him to work immediately.

"The way he's playing, he deserves a shot," manager Tony La Russa said. "And he's going to get it either in St. Louis or someplace else.

"With the way we feel about him, we want it to be here."

Mabry was in the lineup, playing left field and batting fifth, before Tuesday night's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates was postponed because of thunderstorms that dropped golf ball-sized hail and caused flooding on some highways.

Left field has been a bit of a problem position for the Cardinals. Ray Lankford beat out a bevy of candidates in spring training that included Mabry, but has been slumping lately, batting .257 with four homers and eight RBIs in 109 at-bats.

"If you get a little sluggish, somebody else gets a shot," La Russa said.

Mabry came up with St. Louis and played for the Cardinals from 1994 to 1998 before going to Seattle in 1999. He had seven at-bats at the start of 2001 before being traded to Florida.

His best year with the Cardinals was in 1996 when he had 13 homers and 74 RBIs in 1996.

Mabry got a limited shot in spring training, receiving only 19 at-bats in 10 games and batting .158, but the Cardinals like his versatility. He started at all three outfield spots for Memphis and also played first and third.

"I've played probably a week at first base, a week at third base, a week at right field, a week at left field and I even played center field one game," Mabry said. "We seemed to have an injury problem once a week and it was awesome for me.

"I got to work at every position and you can't ask for anything more than that."

La Russa said Mabry would be the primary backup at first base behind Albert Pujols. He also could serve as an emergency third catcher.

To make room on the roster, the Cardinals optioned rookie outfielder Colin Porter to Memphis.