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TOWER GROVE — The news Tuesday that Joe Mather would miss the rest of the season with a hand injury nearly put an unexpected wrinkle on the annual prospect rankings. The word Jaime Garcia is exploring surgical options to correct a sore elbow definitely will impact the Top 30.

TOWER GROVE — On Friday night in Miami, New York Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran creamed a pitch from Marlins closer Kevin Gregg for a two-out, last-strike, game-winning grand slam. Then in the afterglow of his big hit in a big moment for the October-chasing Mets, Beltran marked his celebration with an admission.

(updated 5:05 p.m.) HOUSTON — The Cardinals jet to the desert after this afternoon’s game for what could amount to one big, festive and unexpected Class of ‘06 Reunion in Arizona. Lefthander reliever Randy Flores will join the team Monday when rosters expand to their September limit, manager Tony La Russa confirmed Sunday morning.

HOUSTON — With the schedule running out of games and the rotation running out of starts, the Cardinals have approached Chris Carpenter about returning to the team as a reliever, pitching coach Dave Duncan said Friday. Carpenter threw a 60-pitch session Friday afternoon and left it saying he felt as good or better than in several of the starts he made.

DOWNTOWN — Into the skillet of a ninth inning that, for the moment, defined the Cardinals’ playoff chances, rookie Chris Perez did more than save a game against rival Milwaukee or save a season for the contending Cardinals. He dispensed with semantics. He obliterated this ninth-inning correctness employed by the Cardinals.

DOWNTOWN — Cardinals first-round pick Brett Wallace continues a meteoric rise through the minor-league ranks with the announcement Tuesday that he will be one of two 2008 first-round picks to play in the Arizona Fall League. He’ll share the left side of the infield with the other.

TOWER GROVE — During their four-game sweep of the Cardinals back in July, the Milwaukee Brewers’ brand of celebration caught eyes on the other side of the field and in the stands. After the final out of the game, the Brewers would whip out the tails of their jerseys emphatically and then go about the customary glove slaps, hand shakes, hugs and fist pounds.

TOWER GROVE — Ten former major-league players, all of whom began their careers before 1942 and (excuse the editorial comment) none more deserving than Joe Gordon, are finalists for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and the list includes former St. Louis Browns shortstop and All-Star Vern Stephens.

TOWER GROVE — When asked if there was a “rise-to-the-occasion” element of Albert Pujols’ 8-for-10 weekend against the Atlanta Braves — what with Chipper Jones, NL batting leader, on the other side of the field — manager Tony La Russa said it had more to do with the manager and the pitchers than the Chipper.

TOWER GROVE — It took the record holder, fittingly, to clue me into the record challenger and just what this newcomer could pull off this season. A few weeks ago, Ken Reitz pulled me aside at the ballpark with a simple question: “Hey, how many errors does Glaus have?” The answer then is the same as it is now: Five.