Cardinal centerfielder Jim Edmonds was named the National League player for the month for July. Edmonds led the league in a number of categories including batting average (.381), runs scored (27), slugging percentage (.952), and was tied for the lead in RBI’s (27). It’s the first time Edmonds has ever won a Player of the Month Award… Rick Ankiel pitched his first rehab assignment after undergoing ligament transplant surgery in his elbow last year. He tossed two innings for the Class-A Palm Beach Cardinals, giving up a run and a hit with no walks and three strikeouts. In 2000, Ankiel won 11 games as rookie before battling unexplainable control problems in the playoffs.