When Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez told Smalls to stick out his glove while in the outfield, he was proved right. Sometimes, the ball finds you.
Génesis Cabrera learned that lesson on Thursday night.
The Cardinals left-hander, pitching in relief of Tyler Webb in the seventh inning of a Grapefruit League game against the Marlins, stuck his mitt behind his back while a soft dribbler from Lewis Brinson made its way back to the mound.
What Cabrera found was the ball. What he executed -- albeit with a throw he nearly sailed -- was an out at first base, where Evan Mendoza made an athletic play of his own to grab the ball and land on the bag ahead of Brinson for the second out of frame.
"Our pitchers field their positions pretty darn well," said manager Mike Shildt. "... That's what he did, he showed his athleticism."
Sometimes, the most important lessons we learn come from "The Sandlot."