Dexter Fowler wasn’t in Friday night’s Cardinals lineup, which meant he wasn’t leading off, which meant that Tommy Pham was.
The switch-hitting Fowler, just one for 17 (.059) against lefthanded pitching, didn’t start against Cincinnati lefthander Brandon Finnegan last Saturday, either. Pham, who normally has hit second, led off that day and had a monster game with three hits, a walk and two stolen bases.
“Last time when we had him at the top of the order,” said manager Mike Matheny, “there was no runner in front to keep him from stealing second, stealing third, making things happen, or at least the threat of doing so.