Cardinals set Mulder for first start of year

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals scheduled Mark Mulder for his first start of the season on Sunday, and also activated shortstop Cesar Izturis from 15-day disabled list.

Outfielder Brian Barton was placed on the DL with a hand injury, rookie pitcher Mitchell Boggs was demoted to Triple-A Memphis and outfielder Joe Mather was recalled from Memphis.

Mulder has allowed two runs on four hits in 1 1-3 innings in the first two relief appearances of his career, allowing the tying and go-ahead runs to score in the eighth inning of an 8-7 victory over the Mets on Wednesday.

The left-hander will take the rotation spot that had been held by Boggs, a pleasant surprise before giving up 11 runs — 10 earned — in six innings of an 11-1 loss to the Mets on Thursday. Boggs is 3-1 with a 6.59 ERA in six games, including five starts.

Izturis, who had been sidelined with a groin strain, and Mather, beginning his second stint with the Cardinals, were in the lineup against the Cubs.