The St. Louis Cardinals announced prior to today’s series finale with the Pittsburgh Pirates that they have placed right-handed reliever Jordan Walden (right bicep inflammation) on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 30, and recalled right-handed reliever Sam Tuivailala from Memphis (AAA).
Tuivailala, 22, who appeared in two games with the Cardinals last September, had allowed just one unearned run in his eight appearances (0-0, 0.00 ERA) at Memphis, allowing just three hits while walking six and striking out 12 in 9.0 innings pitched. Tuivailala (pronounced tooee-vah-lah-lah) converted each of his three save opportunities for the Triple-A Redbirds, with saves in each of his last three appearances.
The 6-3, 195-pound Tuivailala, a native of San Mateo, Calif., was selected by the Cardinals in the 3rd round (106th player overall) in the June 2010 amateur draft. He has been assigned uniform no. 64.
