"Rick Ankiel, playing left field Tuesday with rookie Colby Rasmus in center and Ryan Ludwick in right, is down to .222 after a 1-for-4 night.

Asked whether hitting second in front of Pujols might help, manager Tony La Russa said, "The only way that works is if you take advantage of it. He hasn't taken advantage off it.

"Every place (in the lineup), he swings, he takes pretty much the same at-bat. If you use some discipline so that you get the count in your favor, then (the pitchers) will see Albert on deck. You've got to get the count in your favor to benefit from (hitting second) and that's not how (Ankiel) hits. That's one thing he's working on."

Rasmus, who might have been on the bench Tuesday, was in the lineup because of his three hits, including a home run, on Monday. Ludwick was in because he basically is the Cardinals' best cleanup man. Left fielder Chris Duncan was 7 for 24 (.292) against Cincinnati starter Bronson Arroyo but sat because Ankiel was 5 for 13 with three homers off the righthander."