DOWNTOWN — A day after pitching well enough to give the bullpen a chance to win the game, lefty Jaime Garcia is headed back to Triple-A so that the Cardinals can add protection to their bullpen.

The Cardinals recalled rookie Mitchell Boggs this afternoon, and the righthander is expected to join the team in time for tonight’s series-opener against Milwaukee. To make room on the roster for Boggs, the Cardinals optioned Garcia to Triple-A Memphis. The moves were first reported as a possibility by colleague Rick Hummel (HOF ‘07) in this morning’s Post-Dispatch.

The move is made out of necessity, not entirely preference.

The number of appearances and innings needed from the bullpen in the series sweep of San Diego left the Cardinals without a full complement of arms for tonight’s game and possibly Tuesday’s as well. Ron Villone pitched in three consecutive games. Ryan Franklin did not get into Sunday’s game, but he warmed up as if to pitch the 10th inning and he handled two innings Saturday. Jason Isringhausen is an unknown, and Brad Thompson had to pitch 2/3 Sunday after pitching 2 1/3 in relief of Braden Looper on Friday.

There weren’t a lot of innings available for tonight, if needed.

Manager Tony La Russa gave Garcia a “passing” grade for his five innings of work Sunday, his first major-league start. Garcia got better as he got into the game, after allowing a home run on the first curve he threw. The Cardinals pitched Garcia on Sunday to avoid using him in this four-game series against Milwaukee — the Brewers maul lefties — even though it meant setting him up for Friday’s start at Shea Stadium against the New York Mets.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life,” Garcia told Hummel about his first start. “I’ve been waiting since I was a kid.”

At 22 years and 12 days old, Garcia was the youngest pitcher to start a game for the Cardinals sincce Bud Smith in October 2001. Smith was 21.

La Russa did not offer specifics on what Garcia’s demotion would mean for Friday’s game against the Mets. Boggs offers a potential candidate, but only if he goes unused during the series against the Brewers. Boggs made three starts for the Cardinals earlier this season, including a win at Boston’s Fenway Park. It’s also possible — and perhaps even more likely — that Thompson gets a couple days break here and sets up as the starter for Friday at Shea.

More on the move and the Cardinals in tomorrow’s Post-Dispatch.

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