Mulder's shoulder can't hold up in return to mound

[July 10, 2008]  PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Cardinals left-hander Mark Mulder left his comeback start against the Philadelphia Phillies with more pain in his shoulder after throwing only 16 pitches and recording one out in the first inning on Wednesday night.

The Cardinals said Mulder had left shoulder discomfort and will be evaluated on Thursday.

Mulder, coming back from two shoulder operations, made his first start since September and hasn't won a game in 25 months. The former 20-game winner struck out Jimmy Rollins to start the game, then walked Shane Victorino and Chase Utley.

He was quickly visited by a trainer and manager Tony La Russa. After a brief talk on the mound, Mulder left the game.

Brad Thompson came in as the emergency reliever and got Ryan Howard to ground into a double play.

Mulder allowed two runs and four hits in 1 1-3 innings over two relief appearances this year. He made three starts last September and was 0-3 with a 12.27 ERA before undergoing a second operation.

[Associated Press]

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