ST. LOUIS — It was a difficult first week for new St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Peter Bourjos.
Acquired from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the offseason for fan favorite and third baseman David Freese, Bourjos went 0-for-13 in the first six games and also looked shaky defensively. He committed a three-base error on Opening Day in Cincinnati and misjudged a Starling
Marte fly ball that turned into a triple over the weekend in Pittsburgh.
But Bourjos helped himself with his new team — and its fans — in Monday’s 5-3 win over Cincinnati. Batting in the No. 2 spot for the first time, he dunked a broken-bat single to center field in the first and scored on catcher Yadier Molina’s three-run double.
In the seventh, Bourjos chopped a double over third baseman Todd Frazier, who was playing in on the grass because he was worried about a bunt. That sparked a two-run rally that ultimately decided the game.
Manager Mike Matheny thinks Bourjos will play a little freer and easier now that the bagel is out of his hit column.
“It wasn’t the prettiest thing,” Bourjos said of his 2-for-5 afternoon, “but it felt really good.”