*Cards send RHP Alan Benes to Triple-A Memphis*
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ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- St. Louis Cardinals righthander Alan
Benes, who has battled a shoulder injury for most of the last
three years, today was optioned to Triple-A Memphis of the
Pacific Coast League. 

A victim of a crowded St. Louis' rotation, Benes made just one
appearance this season, a 2 1/3-inning stint Friday against
Colorado.  But with Pat Hentgen, Garrett Stephenson, Rick Ankiel
Darryl Kile and Benes' older brother Andy in the rotation, there
was no room for Alan Benes to get consistent innings. 

Benes allowed two runs and three hits over 2 1/3 innings in his
one appearance and had made just three relief appearances since
July 30, 1997. 

Benes was one of baseball's top pitching prospects before
undergoing surgery to repair a partially torn rotator cuff in
his pitching shoulder in September 1997.  He missed all of the
following season before undergoing an arthroscopic procedure on
September 3, 1998 to repair "residual underlying laxity" in the
shoulder. 

Benes was 9-9 with a 2.89 ERA in 1997 and at the time of his
injury, was third in the league in strikeouts and opponents'
batting average and sixth in ERA. 

To fill Benes' roster spot, the Cardinals recalled Gene
Stechschulte from Memphis.  Stechschulte, who has never pitched
in the major leagues, was 1-0 with two saves for the Redbirds. 

St. Louis also announced that promising righthander Matt Morris
had a successful rehabilitation start this afternoon.  Morris
tossed two innings for Jupiter, felt no pain and reach 91 miles
per hour on the radar gun. 

st 04-19-00 18:03 et