Matheny helps out, catches side bullpen session

NEW YORK -- Manager Mike Matheny returned to his roots on Thursday, catching Tyler Lyons' bullpen session after a morning rainstorm condensed the amount of time the Cardinals had to get in all their pregame work.

It wasn't until about an hour before game time that the weather cleared enough for Lyons and Michael Wacha to head out to the Citi Field bullpen and throw their scheduled side sessions. By that point, the Cardinals' two catchers -- Yadier Molina and Tony Cruz -- were already preparing for the game. Bullpen catcher Jamie Pogue was catching Wacha.

With the bullpen needing to be cleared in time for starter Adam Wainwright to throw his warmup pitches, Matheny figured it would be best for Wacha and Lyons to throw side by side. So the manager crouched behind the plate.

"I wanted to make sure they got their stuff done," Matheny said.

A four-time Gold Glove catcher, Matheny has caught his pitchers sporadically before, but this marked the first time this season that he caught a full side session.