Pierzynski to start for injured Molina in Game 3

Oct 14, 2014 - 5:06 PM San Francisco, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina was not in the starting lineup for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against San Francisco on Tuesday as he battles an oblique injury.

A.J. Pierzynski will take Molina's spot behind the plate and bat sixth.

Molina left Game 2 on Sunday night. He apparently suffered the injury early in the contest after a single in the first inning, then didn't leave the batter's box after hitting a double-play grounder in the bottom of the sixth.

Tony Cruz replaced Molina on Sunday night. The Cardinals have three catchers on their 25-man roster for the series.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny on Monday said Molina played catch and was able to throw. He did not swing a bat, however.

"I was very surprised at how well he was able to throw the ball," said Matheny on Monday. "He actually threw quite well. He's going to be day-to-day right now. The doctors are going to continue to work on him, but right now he's going to be active on our roster."

The Cardinals can decide to replace Molina on the roster, but would then lose him if they advance to the World Series.

Molina, a six-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion with the Cardinals, is 5-for-21 in six games this postseason.