CHICAGO -- Seeking to shelve the struggles of a disappointing first half, Tommy Pham enjoyed some instant results from the work he did over the All-Star break to correct the mechanics of his swing.
Starting as the Cardinals' eight-hole hitter for just the second time this season, Pham obliterated a 79.1-mph changeup from Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks for a second-inning solo homer on Thursday. The blast, which landed on Waveland Ave., pushed St. Louis ahead, 2-0, in the opener of a five-game series.
Pham, who began the year as a fixture in the top-third of the Cardinals' lineup, had closed the first half with one home run in his final 21 games.