Oh, Baby: Sanders, Renteria Shine
By Rick Hummel of the Post-Dispatch
03/11/2004
VERO BEACH, Fla. - Reggie Sanders and Edgar Renteria, both of whom had been hitless this spring for the Cardinals, celebrated becoming fathers Thursday with their first hits of the spring. Sanders had two homers and a single. Renteria, in a modest breakout, had two singles. But then again Sanders is more used to this, having four daughters to a first for Renteria.
Sanders had played one exhibition game this spring, having returned to Phoenix for the birth of daughter Cooper. Renteria had missed only one game, having gone to Miami for the birth of his daughter, Nicole.
"I hope she gives me two hits every game," said Renteria after the Cardinals' 13-8 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Sanders rarely has batted second in his career because he is more of a power hitter, but La Russa has a history of batting power hitters second. Dave Henderson and Dave Parker hit second for him in Oakland, Carlton Fisk with the Chicago White Sox, and Ray Lankford or Brian Jordan in 1998 ahead of Mark McGwire in St. Louis.
"Until we get Placido Polanco back ... if you have more big strong guys, you try to scare them in the first (inning)," joked La Russa, who may not have a leadoff hitter who can steal a lot of bases, thus lessening the need for a bat control artist such as Philadelphia's Polanco hitting second in the order.
Sanders said: "When I came here, I told Tony whatever he needed me to do, I'll do. If he needs me to hit second, that's what I'll do."
Sanders' first homer was on Kaz Ishii's first pitch to him in the first inning. The second home run was off an 0-1 pitch and was good for two runs. "They were both for (Cooper)," said Sanders, with a smile. "She was with me."
La Russa, whose previously offensively challenged club had 19 hits after the addition of the new fathers to the lineup, joked, "If someone isn't having a baby, we're going to adopt one every day."
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