MEMPHIS - Extended at-bats are typically a fining offense in the final exhibition of spring. Saturday afternoon at AutoZone Park, the Cardinals granted third-base coach Jose Oquendo a waiver.

The Cardinals disposed of the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds 7-3 in an efficient 2 hours, 22 minutes before an announced crowd of 10,212. With the game in hand, manager Tony La Russa dusted off Oquendo (a.k.a. ”the Secret Weapon”) to pinch hit for catcher Yadier Molina in the eighth inning. Oquendo, who took his last major-league at-bat in 1995, entered a lefthanded crouch against Adam Ottavino.

“They told him not to swing,” laughed first baseman Albert Pujols. “But he’s too much of a competitor.”

Ottavino threw a first-pitch strike to Oquendo then a ball. Oquendo then fouled consecutive pitches to hold a 1-2 count. As Oquendo took his at-bat, MLB.com flashed his career statistics and splits.

Perhaps unnerved that the 45-year-old Oquendo would not lie down, Ottavino threw three straight balls. An appreciate crowd offered its loudest applause of the afternoon.

“I thought he took a good at-bat,” said hitting coach Hal McRae, “a real good at-bat.”

Oquendo advanced to second base on Skip Schumaker’s single and moved to third on a walk of Rick Ankiel. The crowd booed in mock disgust when replacement third-base coach Joe Pettini failed to have Oquendo tag on designated hitter David Freese’s one-out fly ball to shallow right field.

“Pettini sent him but [Oquendo] wouldn’t go,” quipped La Russa, who used Oquendo as a pinch hitter while his last available position player, backup catcher Jason La Rue, warmed Kyle McClellan in the bullpen. Oquendo was stranded when Ottavino retired Chris Duncan.

The game ended with Memphis manager Chris Maloney digging in against Cardinals closer Jason Motte. Maloney (a.k.a. “Hammer”) pulled a two-strike pitch for a broken bat grounder to second base, drawing congratulations from both benches.

Oquendo left the park immediately after the game to drive home with his wife, Zenaida, and could not be reached for comment.

In more mundane details:

Joel Pineiro struck out six and allowed three runs (two earned) in seven innings. McClellan, Josh Kinney and Jason Motte followed with two scoreless frames.

Center fielder Rick Ankiel and shortstop Khalil Greene contributed two-run home runs while Duncan and left fielder Colby Rasmus added two hits apiece.

The Cardinals scored in each of the first four innings, taking leads of 2-0 and 6-3 against Memphis starter Mitchell Boggs. The Redbirds briefly tied the game on Nick Stavinoha’s first-inning sacrifice fly and a double steal executed by Tyler Greene and Joe Mather.

The Redbirds were held to four hits Saturday, two by center fielder Shane Robinson, who finished the two exhibitions 4-for-7. The rest of the Memphis roster was 5-for-54. Memphis hurlers walked 15 and surrendered 23 hits to the parent club in their two losses. The Redbirds open their schedule Thursday against Oklahoma City.