He was one of the reasons the Cardinals could live without Carlos Beltran in the middle of their order as they approached this new season.

But that’s the hitter Craig was. Although he has been as healthy as he has been in several seasons, this year has been a struggle. He has searched for a stroke almost from the start, restrained by a three-for-34 stretch at the outset. It’s been a battle, a work in progress.

And it doesn’t do much good to obsess over who he’s been in years past. This is the hitter he is this season, this is the world in which finds himself. His performance Friday, which included a run batted in and two runs scored, was another step toward the light.

“I’m definitely excited because I don’t take success for granted,” Craig said. “But this game is tough and a lot goes into having a good game. This game is a day-to-day thing and guys are at their best when emotions are level, when they’re not too far in the past mentally and not too far in the future mentally.”

Yet, there is momentum to be had, blocks to stack toward a higher ceiling. Craig has raised his batting average to .231 now and collected 17 RBIs. He was in comfortable surroundings Friday, hitting fourth in a batting order that resembled the one the Cardinals envisioned for this season.