Holliday to have appendectomy

[May 10, 2011]  ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday was having an appendectomy Friday and the team is unsure how long he will be out.

General manager John Mozeliak said the surgery in St. Louis is not an emergency procedure, and that he'll have an idea on Saturday how long the 31-year-old will be sidelined.

Holliday was 3 for 4 and hit a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning of Thursday's 5-3, 11-inning loss to the San Diego Padres. Holliday left Busch Stadium complaining of stomach discomfort.

"I think they caught it early, so I think that's good news," Mozeliak said. "I don't think it's that bad of a blow to the team."

The home run was the first of Holliday's career on opening day, and he also matched a career best with three hits on opening day.

While Holliday is out, Jon Jay and Allen Craig are likely to share playing time in left field and Lance Berkman could move down one spot into Holliday's cleanup role. Mozeliak said no roster move had been made.

The Cardinals were off Friday before resuming a three-game series against the Padres.

Both Jay and Craig are coming off strong springs. Jay made the opening day roster for the first time after tying for the team lead with 14 RBIs, and Craig led the team with 23 hits while batting .359 with three homers and 11 RBIs.

"We have some protection there," Mozeliak said.

Holliday is entering the second season of a seven-year, $120 million free agent deal. He batted .312 with 28 homers, 103 RBIs and a .390 on-base percentage last year while playing 158 games.

[Associated Press]

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