McGwire

ST. LOUIS -- Mark McGwire homered Monday in his first game for the St. Louis Cardinals since April 15.

Leading off the sixth inning, McGwire hit an 0-1 fastball from Paul Rigdon of the Milwaukee Brewers over the left-field wall. It was McGwire's 556th career homer and second of the season.

The home run champion was batting second for perhaps the first time in his career. That was done to assure him an at-bat in the first inning and to remove pressure from batting cleanup.

"It's Opening Day," McGwire said before the game. "I don't know if anxious is the word. I just wanted to get better."

He also grounded into a double play in the first and singled and scored in the fourth. He left the game after the sixth inning.

McGwire has known about plans for his return for about two weeks. Still, he was too happy to be in the lineup to worry about his spot in the order.

"I've said this ever since I was a young kid playing," McGwire said. "It absolutely means nothing where you hit in the lineup. They're going to pitch you the same way whether you hit first or hit ninth."

Rookie sensation Albert Pujols, who batted cleanup much of the time during McGwire's absence, was in that spot Monday. Pujols was batting .356 with 14 homers and 48 RBI in 48 games.

"He's done quite well, he's done really well," McGwire said. "I just hope he doesn't get tired. He's never played six months before."

McGwire batted behind leadoff hitter Fernando Vina.

"Oh, man, his presence in the lineup is incredible," Vina said. "It will be a lot of fun."

McGwire was 2-for-21 with a home run and a single before sitting down with a sore right knee. The 37-year-old slugger had offseason surgery for patella tendinitis.

McGwire said he's ready to play every day, although the plan initially calls for some days off. While the Cardinals were on the road last week, he worked on simulated game situations in three individual workouts at Busch Stadium.

"I don't know what's etched in stone, but I won't be playing every day," McGwire said. "I'm ready to play, but it's totally different than what I've been doing.

"We just have to see how things bounce back."

The Cardinals made room on the roster by designating for assignment Larry Sutton, an outfielder-first baseman. Sutton began the season 0-for-21, was hitless in his last 10 at-bats and was batting .119 with one homer and three RBI.

Meanwhile, a Cardinals spokesman said the team is not expected to make an announcement today on whether Rick Ankiel will stay at Triple-A Memphis or be sent to extended camp in Jupiter, Fla.

Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty and pitching coaching Dave Duncan both said it was likely the team would decide to send Ankiel to Jupiter. He has a 20.77 ERA with 17 walks and 12 wild pitches in 4 1/3 innings at Memphis after going 1-2 in six starts with a 7.13 ERA and 25 walks in 24 innings in the majors this season. Jocketty, Duncan, director of player development Mike Jorgensen, minor-league pitching coordinator Mark Riggins and manager Tony La Russa were to discuss Ankiel's fate Monday.

Ankiel's next scheduled start for Memphis is Tuesday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.