MILWAUKEE (AP) -- The mere sight of Mark McGwire in the lineup wasn't quite enough to inspire the St. Louis Cardinals to victory.

	Mark McGwire struck out looking during his first at-bat since being activated from the DL on Friday.

McGwire came off the disabled list and struck out in his only at-bat since July 6, then watched the Milwaukee Brewers rally for four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat St. Louis 6-5 Friday night.

After the game, McGwire was reluctant to offer more than a few clipped words about his five-pitch at-bat.

"It's a start," he said. "That's all it is."

McGwire was placed on the 15-day disabled list July 13, retroactive to July 7, because of patella tendinitis in his right knee.

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa wanted McGwire to face live pitching, so he batted McGwire second and listed him as the second baseman. McGwire, who has hit 30 home runs in 70 games this season, took a called third strike from Jeff D'Amico.

Then, as planned, McGwire was pulled and replaced by Craig Paquette. In the ninth, Paquette's two-out error on a grounder by Ron Belliard allowed the winning run to score.

McGwire was more impressive in batting practice, when he crushed at least 10 balls over the wall in left field as his teammates stopped and watched. It's uncertain whether he would be able to play full-time if the NL Central leaders reached the postseason.

La Russa agreed with his star slugger that it was simply a beginning.

"He took a couple of swings," La Russa said. "If he comes out of it where he can play tomorrow or get an at-bat tomorrow, then I like what I saw."