JUPITER, Fla.—Cardinals manager Mike Shildt, whose extra men helped pull off a three-run rally to tie Tuesday’s game, took a longer look at some of the players fighting for jobs Wednesday against the New York Mets.
He surely liked what he saw of 28-year-old former independent league first baseman John Nogowski, who, starting in left field for the first time, homered, singled and walked in three plate appearances besides spearing a liner hit his way by burly Pete Alonso. Nogowski has a club-high 11 runs batted in for the spring.
But also what must have brought a smile to Shildt's face was watching Carlos Martinez, facing the Mets for the fourth time in succession, show his former swagger and execute a variety of pitches as he clearly enjoyed himself in a six-inning shutout effort.