ST. LOUIS - Woody Williams works hard for his victories. The question now is whether he's working too hard.
Williams leads the NL with 111 pitches per start and has struggled in the second half. Still, the Cardinals are confident they're not overextending the right-hander, 37.
"I think his arm has got good life, and he's got good stuff," said manager Tony La Russa, whose club is battling for the Central lead. "It's just location."
Williams won his 15th game, matching his career best, Saturday. But it took him eight attempts to get there, and he gave up six runs in six innings while throwing 117 pitches.
After most starts, Williams has said he didn't realized the count was so high and the burden wasn't taxing his arm. Pitching coach Dave Duncan doesn't see fatigue as an issue.
"There's only been a couple of times when he hasn't been real sharp," Duncan said. "The other times he's been a very competitive pitcher.
"He's trying so hard, but it's hard to win 20 games because so many things have to go right for you, and on top of that you have to pitch well."
After beating the Pirates July 26, Williams was 0-5 with a 4.74 ERA the next eight starts. Williams, 15-8 with a 3.84 ERA, also lost in relief at Chicago last week.
But he insists physical woes aren't at the seat of his problems.
"I feel fine," Williams said. "I'm sure people say I'm lying or whatever about the numbers, but the bottom line is I still have to make my pitches and get my mechanics the way they need to be before I can be very consistent."
BLUE JAYS: Vinnie Chulk trotted in from the bullpen, got ready to pitch and then realized where he was. "I saw (Derek) Jeter and just being in Yankee Stadium, I was like, "Oh, my God!' " the rookie right-hander said. Chulk began his major-league career by allowing a single to Jeter and another hit to Jason Giambi, but he got out of the seventh and pitched a scoreless eighth. "My adrenaline was pumping, I was so excited and just trying not to throw to the back screen," Chulk said.
ORIOLES: Designated hitter David Segui had surgery to repair a tendon in his left wrist, ending his season.
RANGERS: Texas purchased the contract of left-hander Tony Mounce from Triple-A Oklahoma and put him in the starting rotation. ... Outfielder Juan Gonzalez was transferred from the 15- to 60-day disabled list.
