LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. • After falling behind in the count to his old Cincinnati teammate Brandon Phillips, Cardinals righthander Mike Leake took a moment to check his infielders Tuesday during his first spring start.
His next pitch was obvious — a sinker, inside, on the hands — and if he got the ball to the right place he wanted to be sure his teammates were going to be in theirs. Shortstop Greg Garcia was shaded toward second. Second baseman Kolten Wong was within view. Leake delivered his two-seam fastball in on Phillips, who jabbed it back at Leake over the mound and …
“I thought it was a hit,” Leake said.