Sunny and extremely windy conditions greeted Belleville News-Democrat photographer Steve Nagy and I on Thursday as we began our stay in Florida to check in on the Cardinals.
We landed in Fort Lauderdale in the early evening Wednesday and made the northward drive on Interstate 95 to historic Stuart, where we got the trip started on the right foot with a late dinner at Wahoo's, located on the intercoastal waterway.
Two yummy Maryland Crab Cakes, garlic mashed potatoes and green beans were served up, and from there it was shuteye time.
The Cardinals opened the baseball portion of the trip with a 5-4 victory over Atlanta on Thursday, with Joe Kelly taking a major step in landing the fifth-starter's job. Matt Adams' RBI double broke a 4-4 tie in the eighth and gave the victory to Michael Wacha, whose "reward" was being reassigned to the minor leagues immediately after the game. He will be back, probably sooner than later.
Third baseman David Freese made an excellent defensive play to rob Joey Terdoslavich of a hit.
Later, Freese displayed a new tattoo that extends from his right shoulder to his biceps.
After two more sittings, at three hours apiece, Freese said the multicolored tattoo will be completed and will extend to the middle of his arm. Perhaps then more details about its shape and perhaps its meaning or significance can be disclosed.
-- David Wilhelm
