ST. LOUIS -- Because of a chronic knee injury, Andy Benes will miss the first turn in the rotation by a St. Louis Cardinals starter this season.

	Benes

The Cardinals placed Benes, 10-7 with a 4.85 ERA, on the disabled list Saturday with inflammation in his right knee. His scheduled turn in the rotation was to be Sunday against the Phillies.

The Cardinals purchased the contract of right-hander Britt Reames from Triple-A Memphis. Reames will take Benes' turn in the rotation Sunday.

Benes has had his right knee drained of fluid six times this season due to a cartilage problem, and he has worn a brace off-and-on. He hasn't won since July 13, although he pitched well enough to win half of his six starts since.

It will be game 123 before St. Louis needs anyone other than Darryl Kile, Garrett Stephenson, Pat Hentgen, rookie Rick Ankiel or Benes to make a start. It's unlikely that the breakdown occurred with Benes, who has missed only six starts in 11 seasons due to a broken thumb at the end of the 1997 season.

"I'm going to miss a few more," Benes said. "I guess they're going to give me a couple weeks to try to get the knee to calm down. It's just gotten to the point where I'm not able to really push and throw the ball the way I'm supposed to."

There was some concern about a previous thigh injury for Reames, although Reames has allowed three earned runs in 20 2/3 innings his last three starts.

Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty said the team was concerned that Benes' mechanics would be affected if he continued to pitch with an injury. Benes struck out 10 in three straight starts in mid-June, but his strikeout totals dropped dramatically in recent outings.

Trainer Barry Weinberg said there are early signs of arthritis in the knee, along with frayed cartilage that will require surgery.

"It's continuing to irritate him, so we've got to make sure we give him the best chance to feel better for the last month," Weinberg said.

Reames was 6-2 with a 2.28 ERA in 13 starts at Triple-A Memphis with two complete games, one of them a shutout. In 75 innings, he has 77 strikeouts, and has allowed only two home runs.

Reames, who turns 27 Saturday, missed two seasons after elbow ligament transfer surgery. He played in only 10 games last year for Class-A Potomac.