Result: Cardinals 8, Marlins 4
Weather: 80 degrees, partly cloudy
By Rob Rains
JUPITER, Fla. – Victor Scott II arrived in spring training earlier this month with a different mindset than he had a year ago.
Scott described how he was “excited” to be with the Cardinals a year ago versus “wanting to stay here” this spring.
“It’s a completely different mindset,” said Scott, competing for the starting spot in center field. “I feel like that’s where I am. Probably a little big hungrier than I was.”
Scott’s hunger was on display on Thursday in the Cardinals’ win over the Marlins. He led off the first inning with a walk, stole second and scored on a single by Lars Nootbaar.
He came up again in the second inning, delivered a base hit and again stole second and later scored. In his first three games of the spring Scott has gone 4-of-7, a .571 average.
“That’s part of his game and we have to continue to practice it,” said manager Oli Marmol. “He was aggressive and it was good seeing him take those two bags. That’s a big part of what he needs to do.
“He’s focused. He’s dialed in. And he’s hungry, wanting to continue to get better every single day. It shows.”
Here is how Thursday’s game broke down:
High: Nolan Arenado hit a three-run homer in the first inning and also doubled in his second at-bat, a ball he said might have been hit harder than any ball he hit last year.
Low: Nolan Gorman struck out in all three of his at-bats and is now 0-of-9 for the spring with five strikeouts.
At the plate: Willson Contreras also was 2-of-2 with an RBI single …Pedro Pages also had an RBI double and Jeremy Rivas drove in the last two runs for the Cardinals with a seventh-inning single … Arenado’s home run was the fifth by the Cardinals in their first four games at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium this spring, taking advantage of the new, shorter outfield dimensions.
On the mound: Andre Pallante allowed five hits in one-plus inning, leading to four runs. Many of the hits were ground balls that went through the infield … Matthew Liberatore retired all six hitters he faced and is now a perfect 12-of-12 in his two appearances this spring … JoJo Romero also turned in a perfect inning in relief.
Worth noting: Gorman got the start at third base with Arenado serving as the DH. The Cardinals intend to give Gorman several games at third this spring to prepare him to bounce back and forth from second base to third during the regular season … With the Cardinals full minor-league camp opening, the first roster cuts likely will come sometime this weekend in advance of Monday’s day off.
Up next: The Cardinals will play the Astros in West Palm Beach on Friday. Erick Fedde is scheduled to make his second start of the spring. Sonny Gray will pitch a simulated game on a back field at the Cardinals complex in Jupiter.
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