Postcard from Cardinals spring training camp for Thursday, March 7, 2024
Result: Astros 6, Cardinals 3
Weather: 79 degrees, overcast
By Rob Rains
JUPITER, Fla. – For the second start in a row, Kyle Gibson ran into first-inning trouble on Thursday, thankful that it is still spring training.
After giving up home runs to the first two hitters in his first start of the spring, Gibson allowed four runs in the first inning as the Cardinals lost to the Astros.
Gibson retired only two of the first seven hitters he faced, giving up four singles and a double, before getting out of the inning.
Luckily for Gibson, the next two innings were much better as he retired all six hitters he faced.
Here is how Thursday’s game broke down:
High: Jordan Walker and Matt Carpenter each hit their first home runs of the spring.
Low: John King allowed three hits and two runs, one earned, in his inning of relief.
At the plate: Alec Burleson reached base in all three of his plate appearances with an RBI double and walking twice … Brendan Donovan and Willson Contreras were the other regulars with a hit … Masyn Winn struck out in both of his at-bats.
On the mound: Matthew Liberatore followed Gibson to the mound and worked three scoreless innings, scattering five hits … The five Cardinals pitchers combined did not issue a walk in the game … Keynan Middleton and Andrew Kitteridge each worked a scoreless inning in relief.
Worth noting: The rosters for the “breakout” game that will feature the Cardinals top prospects were announced on Thursday. On the list are all of the top 10 prospects in the organization and 26 of the top 30 on the MLB.com rankings. Among the players not in the major-league camp playing in the games will be outfielders Won-bin Cho and Chase Davis, their top draft pick from last year, and pitchers Zack Showalter, acquired from Baltimore, and 2023 draft pick Quinn Matthews. The Cardinals will play two games, against the Marlins on March 15 and against the Astros on March 17 … Lars Nootbaar was out of the lineup again on Thursday. He has been sidelined since Saturday because of rib-cage soreness.
Up next: The Cardinals will play their first of five night games this spring on Friday night, taking on the Nationals in West Palm Beach. Lance Lynn is scheduled to pitch three innings in his first start of the spring, with the game set to begin at 5:05 p.m. St. Louis time.
Follow Rob Rains on Twitter @RobRains
