Wong, Holliday return to Cards lineup

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Cardinals had their full complement of position players once again available as both Kolten Wong and Matt Holliday returned to the lineup for Tuesday's series opener against the Rays.

Wong missed the Cardinals' recent series in Toronto while recovering from a left shoulder injury sustained a week ago. He resumed swinging on Sunday, took Monday off and was back at second base on Tuesday. The recent time off provided the necessary time for the shoulder inflammation to subside.

"There's no pain in my swing right now," Wong said on Tuesday. "I can finish my swing fully without any kind of hesitation or pain coming through my shoulder. That's a big difference right now."

Holliday, a game-time scratch on Sunday due to lower back tightness, was back in his customary three-hole spot on Tuesday, serving as the team's designated hitter. Yadier Molina was back behind the plate, too, after a series in which he sat one day and played the other two as a DH.