As of July 12, Ponce de Leon had a 1.99 earned run average for the Cardinals but in three subsequent starts he allowed a total of 10 runs in nine innings and walked 10. His spot was ceded to Michael Wacha, who had a rough start in his most recent return to the rotation.
WILLIAMS ON WAY BACKLefthanded-hitting Justin Williams, a former second-round choice by Arizona and then acquired from Tampa Bay last July in the Tommy Pham trade, was hitting .419 in 31 at-bats for Memphis after being promoted from Class AA Springfield. There he had batted just .