ST. LOUIS -- At least a cursory candidate for Thursday's start before the Cardinals assigned it to Tim Cooney, Carlos Villanueva may have pitched himself into stronger consideration for a spot start in five days.
Villanueva began a string of six no-hit innings by the Cardinals' bullpen in the team's 9-3 win over the Phillies. The veteran righty, who had been sparingly used this year because of the lack of long-relief need, helped bail Cooney out of a third inning en route to retiring every batter he faced.
"I'm always the insurance policy," Villanueva said.