Cardinals Media Relations

The St. Louis Cardinals announced a series of roster moves prior to their series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks this evening, activating catcher Gerald Laird from the 15-day disabled list and purchasing right handed pitcher P.J. Walters from Memphis (AAA).

The Cardinals also designated Memphis pitcher Bryan Augenstein for assignment and they optioned first baseman Mark Hamilton and pitcher Brandon Dickson to Memphis.

Laird has been on the disabled list since May 23, missing 40 games due to a fracture of his right index finger.   He was 3-for-7 (.429) with a double and RBI in two games with Memphis while serving an injury rehabilitation assignment Wednesday and Thursday.

Laird, 31, was batting .214 (9-for-42) with 4 RBI in 15 games for the Cardinals prior to being injured May 22 in Kansas City when he was hit by a pitch in the 10th inning of the Cardinals 9-8 win over the Royals.

Walters, 26, was 7-4 with a 4.27 ERA in 17 games (all starts) for Memphis, recording 87 strikeouts in 103.1 innings pitched.  He has been exceptional over his last 10 starts, going 7-1 with a 2.81 ERA and he has worked six or more innings in each of his last six starts.

Walters has seen time with the Cardinals in each of the past two seasons, compiling a career mark of    2-0, 7.24 ERA in 15 games (4 starts).  He was 2-0, 6.00 ERA in 7 games (3 starts) for St. Louis last season.

Walters will wear uniform #40.

Hamilton had a key RBI single in the Cardinals 1-0 win on July 4 vs. Cincinnati and Dickson contributed 2.1 scoreless innings last night against the Reds as the Cardinals staged a comeback from being down 8-0 to tie the game at 8-8 before losing in 13 innings.  Dickson also collected his first Major League hit last night, singling and scoring during the Cardinals five-run uprising in the 7th inning.