PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Harrison Bader, who was two for eight with two doubles in two starts as a leadoff man last season, was in the No. 1 spot Sunday for the Cardinals. A good spot, it seemed.
Bader rocketed the second pitch thrown to him by New York Mets lefthander Steven Matz over the left-field wall and the Cardinals had a 1-0 lead in their second exhibition game of the spring.
Former aces Adam Wainwright and Carlos Martinez, both counted on to be in the rotation this year, are slotted for the first four innings.