Mid-game exit for Molina after awkward swing

Cards chat: Read the Derrick Goold Q-&-A9 moments that define the Cardinals-Cubs seriesCHICAGO • At the first wince of trouble the Cardinals removed catcher Yadier Molina from Monday’s game hoping that having him miss a few innings would keep him from missing the remainder of the postseason.

During his second at-bat in Game 3 of the National League division series, Molina swung at an offspeed pitch and reached with the bat. He had to release the bat with his left hand and had enough of an anguished reaction that a team trainer met him before he could step back in the box. Molina has returned to the lineup and tried to play with a torn ligament in his left thumb, an injury he sustained when…