Carpenter downplays tightness in left hip

ST. LOUIS -- Though he was removed after five innings due to tightness in his left hip, Matt Carpenter downplayed the issue after the Cardinals' 5-1 win over the Brewers and, before he left Busch Stadium for the night, had already begun lobbying manager Mike Matheny for inclusion in Sunday's lineup.

Carpenter felt "something kind of grab me and tighten up on me" while taking a pitch during his plate appearance in the fourth inning. When he put a ball in play later in the at-bat, he felt it again. Carpenter played another inning in the field before being removed for precautionary reasons.

"Matt typically wouldn't come out for what he felt had he not already had a few at-bats," Matheny said. "We had an opportunity to be very proactive and cautious."

After exiting, Carpenter received treatment to relieve some inflammation around the hip.

"I think just staying ahead of it more than anything," Carpenter said of what's ahead. "Like tonight, with it being tight, if I kept playing, maybe something could have happened to it. But it's a smart move to get out of there, get some work on it, and hopefully I'll be good to go [on Sunday]."

Carpenter went 0-for-3 in the game and was the only position player not to reach base. Mark Reynolds replaced him in the sixth and finished the game at first base.