ST. LOUIS – Tony La Russa stepped away from defending Albert Pujols’ boorish behavior and the Scott Rolen saga long enough to make sure Scott Spiezio stayed in the lineup last night against the Mets in Game 3 of the NLCS at Busch Stadium.

Based on Spiezio delivering a two-run, first-inning triple off Steve Trachsel that ignited a 5-0 victory that handed the Cardinals a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, La Russa’s decision only added fuel to the argument that he is one of the best in the business.

After substituting Spiezio for Rolen at third base in Game 2 Friday night at Shea Stadium, La Russa used the veteran switch-hitter in left field in Game 3 and the move paid off almost instantly.

With Albert Pujols on first and Preston Wilson on second and two outs in the first inning, Spiezio hit a fly ball toward the right-field foul line that Shawn Green dove for but didn’t catch. As the ball bounced off Green’s body, Wilson and Pujols scored, and Spiezio made third easily.

“It was weird,” Spiezio of the triple that Green took a bad route on. “I didn’t know where I hit it on the bat. I thought it was off the end and I knew it had a chance to get down.”

Trachsel, who didn’t make it out of the second inning, kept the damage to two runs by leaving the bases loaded, but the tone was set.

Spiezio is playing in October for the second time in a 12-year career and certainly is comfortable with the big stage. In 2002, when he helped the Angels win the World Series, Spiezio was 18-for-55 (.327) with three homers and 19 RBIs.

“I love it,” Spiezio said of October. “It’s a do-or-die atmosphere.”

Spiezio went 2-for-4 and drove in three runs in the Cardinals’ 9-6 Game 2 victory and is 3-for-9 (.333) with five RBIs in the three games.

“He is most comfortable at first and third and we have played him at second,” La Russa said. “He [plays left] like he does everything else; he competes. And if you compete, it’s amazing how well things work out.”