ST. LOUIS -- When Cardinals outfielders
\n\n \n\nWith three hits each on Friday and Saturday, and a career-high four against the Dodgers on April 11, he became the fourth Cardinal to record three straight home games with at least three hits at the current Busch Stadium.\n\nIn and out of the starting lineup to begin the season, Martinez was semi-permanently plugged into the lineup in right field Tuesday against the Brewers. It was then that his current five-game hitting streak began. He said his approach doesn’t change whether he’s starting or coming off the bench.\n\nWith Bader and O'Neill expected to return to the roster this week, the dilemma for the Cardinals could become where to give the hot-hitting Martinez playing time. Regardless of what happens, he’ll rely on the mindset he has when he arrives at the ballpark -- be ready for whatever situation arises.\n\n“He’s been a gracious teammate, and he’s valuable because he’s willing to do it all and do it well,” Shildt said. “He’s had an opportunity to get out there and get some consistent at-bats. He’s a good and professional hitter, and he does what he does. He takes good at-bats in the situations. Good teammate, good player.”
\n\n \n\nThe Mets hit four homers to the Cardinals' none on Sunday -- all of them solo shots -- but the Cardinals’ offense was able to out-hit the Mets overall, 8-7. Seven different Cardinals players combined for the eight hits off Syndergaard, while also showing aggressiveness on the basepaths.\n\n“We have a really talented offense, and a lot of different skillsets,” Shildt said. “And we incorporate our baserunning, too. Understanding how to create situations and understanding how to be ready for situations on the bases with that. This group is very intentional because every situation is a situation. … We have a group of talented hitters that have a good approach to understand what that looks like.\"\n\n**Hudson notches first win**\n\n
\n\nBut Hudson (1-1, 5.89 ERA) is learning and processing how to pitch in the Major Leagues. In the third inning, he worked himself out of a bases-loaded jam when he threw out Pete Alonso -- who had hit a monster home run in the first inning -- at home and then forced Jeff McNeil to fly out to end the inning.\n\nHudson gives a lot of the credit to veteran catcher