JUPITER, Fla. • Those concerned about the lack of home runs shown by Matt Carpenter and the Cardinals this spring will be happy to hear the third baseman is now on the board.
Carpenter's first spring training home run came on a 1-1 pitch from Marlins starter David Phelps in the bottom of the first inning of Sunday's Grapefruit League game at Roger Dean Stadium. He sent it over the right center field wall. Then he doubled to right during his second trip to the plate in the third.
Carpenter is hitting leadoff today, the spot he thrived in while hitting a career-high 28 homers in 2015.