LAKELAND, Fla. — As if the walks the Cardinals allowed weren't maddening enough, the balls Detroit put in play sure had a funny way of finding fielders not ready for them, too.
Before the game, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol acknowledged that he did not have a complete set of choices for center field Tuesday against the Tigers at Joke Marchant Stadium. He went with Moises Gomez, a slugger who had some minor-league experience in center field, and then let the game go where it took them.
The result was an ugly 16-3 loss to the Tigers that was a reminder of how few times in the coming weeks the Cardinals are going to have their planned together in the field.