JUPITER, Fla. — Manager Tony La Russa indicted the middle of his order for yesterday afternoon’s offensive woes, so he took the best batters from the evening game — a sigh-of-relief victory — and spliced them into lineup for today’s game.

That means game-winning triple Skip Schumaker is back at leadoff.

And outfielder Amaury Marti – the Cuban defector whose fascinating background has made him baseball blogdom’s answer to Pecos Bill – returns as the designated hitter and No. 5 batter.  Marti went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Marti is hitting .429 this spring, slugging .429 and reaching base with a .429 OBP in seven at-bats.

Marti and other righthanded hitters are in the lineup opposite LHP Aaron Thompson, the Marlins’ sudden starter. Scheduled starter LHP Scott Olsen was a scratch last night. Sick of the Cardinals? (After all, it appears to be the only team he starts against in the past couple springs.) Nope. Shoulder tendinitis. There must be something about Abacoa that doesn’t agree with starters and healthy limbs.

Then there is the gunslingers.

Closer Jason Isringhausen and setup Ryan Franklin are together again, with Isringhausen scheduled to make his first game appearance of spring.

The Cardinals (3-5)

1. Skip Schumaker, CF
2. Joe Mather, LF
3. Albert Pujols, 1B
4. Troy Glaus, 3B
5. Amaury Marti, DH
6. Brian Barton, RF
7. Yadier Molina, C
8. Adam Kennedy, 2B
9. Brendan Ryan, SS

Starting pitcher: RHP Todd Wellemeyer (60 pitches). Followed by: RHP Brad Thompson (60 pitches); RHP Ryan Franklin; RHP Jason Isringhausen; LHP Ron Flores. Backups: RHP Jason Motte; RHP Mark Worrell.

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