Redbirds place shortstop Izturis on DL

BOSTON -- The St. Louis Cardinals placed shortstop Cesar Izturis on the 15-day disabled list before Sunday's game in Boston with a strained right hamstring.

Izturis injured his hamstring Friday night in Boston and came out of the game in the fourth inning. Izturis was batting .241 with one homer and 12 RBIs in 67 games this season.

Taking his place on the 25-man roster is Nick Stavinoha, whose contract was purchased from Class AAA Memphis. Stavinoha made his major league debut Sunday when he was put in the lineup as the club's designated hitter. Stavinoha collected his first major league hit with a single in the sixth inning.

Stavinoha, a seventh round pick out of Louisiana State in 2005, became the ninth St. Louis player to make his debut this season. He was batting .346 with 10 homers and 50 RBIs in 71 games at Class AAA.

To make room on the 40-man roster for Stavinoha, the team moved injured starter Chris Carpenter from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list. Carpenter is recovering from right elbow surgery and was placed on the disabled list on March 21.

-- AP