Victor Caratini stepped in for Jon Lester, who’d bee outstanding after allowing four early runs, and provided a bases-clearing pinch-hit double. Those runs would be all the Cubs needed, though they tacked on more in a 9-4 win over the Cardinals. The hit increased Caratini’s season slash line to .366/.480/.600, not bad for a backup catcher.
The ringing double came on Caratini’s 50th plate appearance this season, so performance can no longer be dismissed as a product of small sample size. Yes, Caratini is unlikely to fall off a bit from that slash over the remainder of the season.