The fractured pinkie that came as punctuation to an appearance for Memphis gave Reyes and the Cardinals the chance to do what they wanted to at some point this — find the starter within their talented righthander and give it a chance to build strength and emerge as a factor.

In his outing against the Stone Crabs, Reyes allowed one run in the first inning, and it scored on a sacrifice fly. He retired the final eight batters he faced, and starting with the back end of Charlotte’s lineup he struck out the side in the fifth.

Reyes had been throwing simulated games behind an L-screen at the Cardinals’ facility in Jupiter, Fla. In his final controlled-setting start this past Saturday, Reyes threw 70 pitches and simulated around four innings. He was able to duplicate that workload in competition, which the Cardinals wanted to see, and he got better and stronger through it. The first two Stone Crabs of the game reached base against him — via a groundball single and a walk, respectively.

Two groundouts and a sacrifice fly later, Reyes was out of the trouble.

He struck out two in the second inning and faced the minimum, and both of the singles he allowed in the game were on groundball singles.

Fourteen of his 15 outs came within reach of an infielder or catcher.