Cards 'pen again delivers as Rosenthal rests

ST. LOUIS -- For the second straight day, a save situation came and went on Tuesday without Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal ever warming up in the Busch Stadium bullpen.

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Kevin Siegrist again filled the role of closer du jour and sealed the team's third consecutive 3-2 victory, second straight over the Twins. While Siegrist filled in admirably, Rosenthal watched from the bullpen bench, his right arm still too sore to pitch.

Though Rosenthal has now been unavailable since notching a four-out save on Saturday, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny downplayed the possibility of this leading to a stint on the disabled list.

Video: MIN@STL: Choate induces a fly out to end the frame

"I don't think so with the information I've been given so far," Matheny said. "It truly is day to day and wait and see when he plays catch. We've had him reviewed with the medical team, and they've ruled out anything structural. It's just one of those times during a season and just so happened to fall on two nights when he'd typically be needed."

Rosenthal said he first noticed the soreness after his appearance on Saturday. He described the discomfort as feeling "like a knot in my biceps." Rosenthal underwent a battery of tests that ruled out something more serious than general soreness.

"I think it's just something that's probably normal for most pitchers, but something I hadn't experienced before," said Rosenthal. "I've been a guy who hasn't really had any issues, so anything that comes up, I want to make sure I'm open with them. I think it's a good time now to take some rest."

Despite the absence of their closer and the fact that they've been missing setup man Jordan Walden since April, the Cardinals' bullpen continues to be lights-out. With 2 2/3 more scoreless innings behind Michael Wacha on Tuesday, the unit has now allowed just one earned run over 31 innings this month.

Video: MIN@STL: Wacha allows two runs over 6 1/3 innings

That run was innocuous, too, as it came off Carlos Villanueva in an 11-3 rout by the Rockies.

"It's been fun to be part of a crew that continues to just care about the day and is selfless," said Matt Belisle, who has a personal 10 2/3-inning scoreless streak. "It's just a selfless approach where we know that whoever is called upon is there to help win the game that day."

The bullpen has struck out 28, walked five and allowed 26 hits in 14 June games. No other 'pen had allowed fewer than seven earned runs since the start of the month. Five had given up more than 20.

The bullpen's season ERA dropped to 1.89 after Tuesday's work, matching the Royals for the lowest in the Majors this year.

"They're doing a nice job picking each other up," Matheny said. "You watch Seth [Maness] come in and get into a tough situation and get out. [Randy] Choate helping out Belisle. It's just one guy supporting the other. That's really what you want from your bullpen."