Rick Ankiel

[Bwanna]

Ankiel: day-to-day with ab strain...

NEW YORK — Cardinals center fielder Rick Ankiel felt a pull in his torso while legging out a double in the eighth inning Saturday and was a scratch from Sunday’s game because of what the team has called an abdominal strain.

Manager Tony La Russa had planned to start both Ankiel and Skip Schumaker in the outfield Sunday — two lefthanded hitters even against lefty start Johan Santana because “he’s hard on both” sides of the plate, La Russa said. But as the team arrived at Shea Stadium on Sunday morning, the manager learned of Ankiel’s continued soreness near his stomach.

La Russa said Ankiel first felt the pinch when he running on a double he hit off reliever Duaner Sanchez to lead off the eighth inning. Ankiel played the rest of the 14-inning, five-hour game “in distress,” La Russa said.

La Russa was not if Ankiel would be available to hit in Sunday’s game.

Ankiel received treatment before the game and is considered day-to-day until the severity of the injury is determined.