NATIONAL LEAGUE Cards recall John Mabry, but weather spoils start

Tuesday's Cardinals-Pirates' game was postponed by rain and reset for August.
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- 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.
The game was called off about two hours before it was supposed to start. It's the first rain-out at Busch Stadium since April 6, 2003, and the 58th in 39 years at the stadium.
"Traffic problems were a big factor," general manager Walt Jocketty said. "The roads are such a mess that it would be tough to get the fans down here, plus we had so much rain the field is very wet."
Reset for August
The game will be rescheduled during a four-game series in St. Louis from Aug. 19-22. The Cardinals opted not to try to play a doubleheader today or Thursday, the final two days of a scheduled three-game series, because of a forecast for more rain.
Jeff Suppan, the Cardinals' scheduled starter on Tuesday, will be moved back to Thursday. Jason Marquis remains the probable for tonight's game.
The Pirates' rotation all gets pushed back with Kris Benson pitching tonight and Ryan Vogelsong going Thursday. Vogelsong moves up a day ahead of Oliver Perez, who had been today's probable.
La Russa said Mabry would be the primary backup at first base behind Albert Pujols. He also could serve as an emergency third catcher.
"He's really worked hard and did everything and more that was asked of him," Jocketty said.