Ahead in the count, 0-2, Martin spun two loose breaking balls out of the strike zone, exactly like O’Neill chased after as a rookie. He ignored both. On 2-2, Martin went back to the fastball up, at 94 mph. This pitch, a tad lower in the strike zone, O’Neill crushed. The towering fly ball carried high and over the left-field wall at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches toward the Astros’ offices. As the ball shrank from view, according to one Cardinals’ description, it wasn’t the power that echoed but O’Neill’s process.
“Good sign,” hitting coach Jeff Albert said.