CHICAGO • The way Tommy Pham, a fixture at the top of the lineup earlier this season, and his new manager see his recent starts at No. 8 in the lineup is a starting point. As he hits his way out of the hole in his average, he’ll hit his way up the order.
Pham had three hits Friday — “Singles, man,” he noted — and scored three times while batting eighth for the Cardinals. He has hit in that same spot since Mike Shildt took over as manager, and he’s gone six-for-nine with five singles and a first-at-bat homer Thursday.