In the third inning Monday on a cool, quiet night, Matt Carpenter walked to the plate without long sleeves or gloves. He settled into the lefthanded batter’s box — the rectangle stage in which he previously performed some of his greatest hits — and worked the count as he is wont.
Three-one. Hitter’s pitch. The defense was shifted into the football-like setup — just a lone defender stood on the left side of the infield. So, he bunted. The pitcher grabbed the ball but threw it off-balanced. Safe at first. Base hit.
His first hit of the season.
