United Group Insurance

Beltran leaves with strained knee, is day to day

Sports

October 18th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Carlos Beltran’s availability for Game 4 of the NL championship series was uncertain after the St. Louis Cardinals slugger left Wednesday’s game with a strained left knee. Subbing for Beltran in right field, Matt Carpenter hit a two-run homer in his first at-bat to help the Cardinals beat the San Francisco Giants 3-1 for a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Still, the prospect of losing Beltran for even a game or two is troubling for St. Louis given his postseason pedigree. Beltran leads the Cardinals with a .400 postseason batting average. He has three home runs and six RBIs in the playoffs this year and leads all players with eight extra-base hits.