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JUPITER Yunel Escobar Jersey , Fla. (AP) — In his first at-bat in a St. Louis uniform, Paul Goldschmidt nearly showed the pop missing from last year’s Cardinals lineup.After getting a standing ovation Sunday from many Cardinals fans in the spring training crowd, Goldschmidt launched a long flyball that Washington right fielder Chuck Taylor caught on the warning track.“I hit it decent but that’s probably about what I expected — to the warning track or just before,” Goldschmidt said. “It was a decent swing. He made a good pitch.”Though appreciative of the crowd response, Goldschmidt focused more on his pre-pitch routine.“I did notice a little bit but you’re in there to compete,” Goldschmidt said. “I was just in there getting ready for that at-bat and trying to find a way to get on.”Goldschmidt’s teammates were aware, too, there was a buzz in the stands for the newcomer.“They’re the best fans in baseball for a reason and they recognize great players Martin Maldonado Jersey ,” third baseman Matt Carpenter said. “They’re as excited as we are to have a guy like Paul around. They showed it today and will show it even more when we strap it on at Busch for the first time.”Acquired from Arizona in an offseason trade, Goldschmidt hit third, behind Carpenter and Dexter Fowler. It’s a top three that manager Mike Shildt intends to pair together early in Grapefruit League play.“It was good to see to him in there — the presence,” Shildt said. “It’s just great to have that name in that lineup.”Goldschmidt, a six-time All-Star first baseman who hit 209 homers in eight seasons with Arizona, struck out swinging in his second at-bat before exiting.While Goldschmidt made his debut in a Cardinals uniform, pitcher Michael Wacha took the mound for St. Louis the first time since a June oblique injury prematurely ended his season last year. He owned an 8-2 record with a 3.20 ERA at the time of the injury.An All-Star in 2015 and the 2013 NL Championship Series MVP, Wacha allowed one run on one hit and a walk http://www.angelsfanproshop.com/authentic-zack-cozart-jersey , striking out a batter. He threw 15 of 26 pitches for strikes during two innings of work.“It was good to get back out on the mound,” Wacha said. “It was a lot of fun to get back out there competing again and feeling healthy, for sure.”The lone hit Wacha allowed came on a line drive by Andrew Stevenson that froze Fowler in right field, ultimately sailing over his head for a double.“It took off,” Fowler said, “That ball was crushed.” NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees star Aaron Judge took another step in his return from a broken right wrist when he played right field for a couple of innings Friday night.The Yankees activated him from the disabled list before the game against Toronto. The team said he is limited for now to defense and pinch running — still no hitting for the slugger.Judge got a big ovation when he trotted to the outfield for the top of the eighth inning. He had not played since July 26, when he was hit by a pitch from Kansas City’s Jakob Junis.The Yankees initially expected Judge to return in about three weeks.“With the roster, it makes some sense to have him available to Darin Erstad Jersey , if there’s a spot where we can get him in, to run the bases or play some defense,” New York manager Aaron Boone said before the start of New York’s final regular-season homestand. “He’s getting real close to being an option for us.”Judge on Monday took his first on-field batting practice since the injury. Boone said Friday the team is a couple days from making a decision on at-bats for Judge in a simulated game, a step before he will hit in a game. Judge has to take more swings and face higher velocity before he hits in a game.“It’s about hopefully getting him enough at-bats to where he can kind of knock off some of that rust, and hopefully that timing comes back sooner rather than later and he gets in a comfortable place as we head into the final week and into October,” Boone said.Judge is hitting .285 with 26 home runs and 61 RBIs. The Yankees entered Friday 26-20 since he got hurt, fading from contention in the AL East but on track to earn a wild card. In discussing Judge’s importance in the clubhouse, Boone echoed the old EF Hutton advertising campaign of the 1970s and ’80s.“When Aaron speaks http://www.angelsfanproshop.com/authentic-zack-cozart-jersey , people listen,” Boone said.Injured closer Aroldis Chapman is to throw another bullpen session Saturday, a simulated game on Monday and then could be activated in the middle of next week, Chapman has not pitched in a game since Aug. 21 because of left knee tendinitis.“I’m feeling really good right now,” Chapman said through a translator. “No pain and nothing.”