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Berkman's return to St. Louis brings back memories

ST. LOUIS -- Unlike some of his new teammates, Lance Berkman has no bad memories of St. Louis. He played here with the Cardinals in 2011-12 and was a member of their world championship team that beat the Rangers in '11.

Berkman homered and had the game-tying single with two outs in the 10th inning in Game 6 that kept the Cardinals alive. They won it in the 11th inning on David Freese's home run, and Berkman isn't above bringing it up to fellow Rangers.

"I try to get a good dig in on somebody once a week, maybe once every two weeks," Berkman said. "I don't bring it up unless things are going good and we've been in a little lull lately."

He doesn't have to worry about the Rangers digging him back in return.

"What are they going to give back?" Berkman said. "The guy who is scary is Adrian Beltre. He's not amused by any of that."

Berkman is back in St. Louis but is not expected to start in any of the three games. There is no designated hitter in the National League city, and the Rangers activated first baseman Mitch Moreland off the disabled list on Friday, and he was immediately back in the lineup. Moreland was 6-for-12 with three doubles and a home run during his three games on medical rehabilitation assignment.

"I feel good and ready to go," Moreland said. "I just need to go out there and keep doing what I need to be doing ... have good at-bats and get good pitches to hit."

T.R. Sullivan is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Postcards from Elysian Fields, and follow him on Twitter @Sullivan_Ranger.
Read More: Texas Rangers, Lance Berkman, Mitch Moreland