Cardinals C Molina out with fractured wrist

May 31, 2007 - 1:08 AM DENVER (Ticker) -- The St. Louis Cardinals' season got a little bleaker on Wednesday when they announced that catcher Yadier Molina will be out four to six weeks with a non-displaced fracture of his left wrist.

Molina, one of three brothers catching in the major leagues, is batting .273 with one homer and 12 RBI.

To replace Molina, the Cardinals purchased the contract of catcher Brian Esposito from Memphis of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League.

Gary Bennett will get most of the starts in place of Molina.

The defending champions are 20-29, in fifth place seven games behind the National League Central Division-leading Milwaukee Brewers entering Wednesday's contest with the Colorado Rockies.