SAN FRANCISCO -- A year ago, as Yadier Molina scuffled through a rough offensive start to the season, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa stuck with his young catcher, playing Molina just about every day. It was a show of faith in a young player, an indication that his position was secure no matter what.

A year later, with Molina established in the big leagues, but struggling even more mightily at the plate, Molina is seeing a few more days off. The 23-year-old receiver is playing his usual elite-level defense, but his batting line -- .171 average, .226 on-base percentage, .211 slugging percentage entering Tuesday -- is not a pretty sight. Before a 2-for-4 night Monday, Molina had gone 10-for-79 in his previous 24 games.

So La Russa has given Molina a few more days off, and Molina appreciates the breathers. The batting funk is weighing heavily on Molina.

"It's hard," he said. "Last year was last year. This year, it's hard. I'm going to be honest -- it's hard. Earlier in the season, no. But the last two weeks, I feel real down. But you have to be strong mentally and physically."

Gary Bennett made his 12th start behind the plate Tuesday against the Giants. By contrast, last year's backup, Einar Diaz, didn't make his 12th start until July. La Russa maintains the same thing he did last year -- that Molina is hitting into bad luck, that he's a better hitter than his numbers indicate. And he expects Molina to regain his form, just as he did after April in 2005.

"His whole career, he's hit," La Russa said. "And he hit last year. So he's going to hit this year. Every place he's played, he has always hit. He's got a good stroke. He's got a lot of the hitter's mentality you look for. So he's going to hit."

Asked whether Molina might benefit from being sent to the Minors for a while to sort things out, La Russa was unequivocal.

"The No. 1 thing our catchers do is catch our pitching," he said. "And he's as good as anybody in the league. So what I said last year about how he could go hitless and be our catcher, it's even more true this year because he's more experienced."

Spiezio in left: Left field for the Cardinals is looking more like the mix-and-match situation from earlier in the year. After John Rodriguez appeared established as the man against right-handed pitching, he has not been in the lineup in either of the past two games where the Cards faced a right-hander.

On Monday, it was Larry Bigbie getting the start in left, and Tuesday, it was Scott Spiezio -- making his 19th career start in the outfield. On Sunday in Kansas City, Bigbie started in left, but Rodriguez was in right field in place of Juan Encarnacion.

Figuring into the decision Tuesday was Spiezio's career record against Giants starter Matt Morris.

"I wanted to get Bigbie, he had a little life on Sunday, tried to get him going, so I played him yesterday," La Russa said Tuesday afternoon. "Johnny's not quite as hot as he was, but I started to play him today -- and I looked and you've got Spiezio 3-for-3 with a home run [against Morris]. I'm not going to ignore that.

"I think it's just an embarrassment of riches. But John takes a blow there for a few days. I'm sure he's disappointed. I wish it didn't have to be, but that's what it is. Too many good players."

Spiezio was greeted by boos Monday night by fans who remember his heroics against the Giants in the 2002 World Series.

"It's a good boo," said Spiezio.

This date in Cardinals history: On May 23, 2003, the Cardinals rallied from a 7-2 deficit to beat the Pirates, 10-8, in 10 innings. Albert Pujols went 5-for-6, including an RBI bunt single, as the Redbirds scored three in the eighth, three in the ninth and two in the 10th. Tino Martinez and Scott Rolen each had three-run homers in the comeback. Thanks to Project Retrosheet (www.retrosheet.org) for the information.

Baby 'Birds: Alan Benes' first start since 2004 was a success for Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday night. Benes tossed five shutout innings and got the win in a 3-1 victory over Tacoma. Skip Schumaker had two more hits -- his fifth straight multihit game -- and Brian Daubach and Travis Hanson each homered. Schumaker is 12-for-22 (.545) in his last five games, and he has a 13-game hitting streak. ... Stuart Pomeranz stayed hot for Double-A Springfield, allowing one run on three hits over seven innings in a 2-1 win over Midland. He struck out four and walked four. Pomeranz, 21, has won four straight starts, allowing four runs in 27 2/3 innings over that span. ... Class A Palm Beach rallied for three runs in the ninth to beat Lakeland, 4-3. Ryan Barthelemy drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home the winning run. ... Cory Meacham turned in a fine start for Class A Quad Cities, allowing a run on six hits over seven innings as the Swing beat Clinton, 10-5. Bryan Anderson had four hits.

The player of the day is Quad Cities catcher Anderson, who went 4-for-4 with two doubles, three runs scored and three RBIs. The second-year pro made one of the most impressive debuts of the 2005 draft class and has kept it up in 2006. He's batting .333 with a .426 on-base percentage and slugging .486. Anderson, still just 19, has six extra-base hits in the past three games.

Coming up: The Cardinals and Giants finish their three-game series Wednesday afternoon at AT&T Park. Chris Carpenter goes for win No. 5 -- but hopes to pitch better than he did last time out -- when he faces Noah Lowry. First pitch is set for 2:35 p.m. CT.