Postcard from Cardinals spring training camp for Sunday, March 17, 2024
Result: Cardinals 10, Astros 6
Weather: 85 degrees, partly cloudy
By Rob Rains
JUPITER, Fla. – The Cardinals like to bring players over from the minor-league camp to spring training games, so they can get the exposure and if there is a chance, play a couple of innings in the field or maybe get an at-bat.
Occasionally, one will get to enjoy a moment like Brody Moore did on Sunday.
Moore, an infielder who was the Cardinals’ 17th round draft pick out of Auburn in 2022, hit a grand slam in the eighth inning that gave the Cardinals a win over the Astros.
“Seeing him run around the bases, he was pumped,” said manager Oli Marmol. “The crowd got into it. It was a good moment for him for sure.”
Moore, wearing uniform number 81 with no name on the back, was even pushed out of the dugout by his teammates to enjoy a curtain call.
“They pushed him out there to enjoy the moment,” Marmol said. “It was good for the kid.”
Moore split the 2023 season between four levels in the farm system, spending most of the year at Class A Peoria. He hit only one home run in a combined 317 at-bats.
Here is how Sunday’s game broke down:
High: Dylan Carlson hit his second home run of the spring and drove in another run with a double, both batting righthanded.
Low: Ryan Helsley allowed a home run to the first hitter he faced then walked the bases loaded before getting out of the inning on a line drive to center.
At the plate: The Cardinals trailed 6-4 before Luken Baker tied the game with a two-run homer in the eighth, prior to Moore’s blast that capped the six-run inning … Carlson’s homer was measured at 425 feet. Both the homer and double came off Framber Valdez, who will be the Astros opening day starter … Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson both drove in runs with sacrifice flies.
On the mound: Matthew Liberatore gave up three runs in the first inning, including a two-run homer but finished his 3 2/3 innings with five strikeouts and no walks … Andre Pallante allowed two runs, one unearned, in two innings while recording four strikeouts.
Worth noting: The Cardinals officially named Miles Mikolas as their starter for opening day on March 28 in Los Angeles. Mikolas, who has been the team’s best starter this spring, will be making his third career opening day start. Sonny Gray, who threw a modified live batting practice on Sunday, could still avoid the injured list and start later during the season-opening road trip depending on his continued recovery from a hamstring injury. His next step should be throwing live batting practice on Thursday … Lars Nootbaar said his medical re-evaluation showed he was “progressing” from his two broken ribs but he has not been cleared to begin swinging a bat. He did play catch for the first time on Sunday since he was injured … In the prospects game against the Astros, Joshua Baez produced the only run of the game with a home run tracked at 455 feet. Adam Kloffenstein and Michael McGreevy each pitched two innings for the Cardinals. Victor Scott II was 1-of-4, but was then was thrown out trying to steal second.
Up next: The Cardinals will have their second day off of the spring on Monday, then will have a split-squad doubleheader on Tuesday, hosting the Marlins in the day game and playing the Mets in the night game in Port St. Lucie. Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn are the scheduled starters.
Follow Rob Rains on Twitter @RobRains
