Result: Astros 3, Cardinals 2
Weather: 74 degrees, partly cloudy
By Rob Rains
JUPITER, Fla. – After two years dealing with one injury after another, Tekoah Roby really had one goal coming into spring training for the Cardinals this year.
Roby knew that if he was finally able to stay healthy, his pitching performance would thrust him right back near the top of the list of pitching prospects in the organization.
Two appearances into this spring, that’s exactly what has happened.
Roby became the first Cardinal to work three innings this spring in Friday’s game against the Astros in West Palm Beach. He allowed one run on two hits and two walks, striking out one.
Combined, he has allowed one run in five innings in his two games this spring.
Roby, 23, only pitched in one game last spring and then was limited to 38 innings in the regular season because of a pair of injuries, which also limited him to just 58 innings in 2023, when the Cardinals acquired him and Thomas Saggese in the trade that sent Jordan Montgomery to the Texas Rangers.
Here is how Friday’s game broke down:
High: After allowing two runs in his first outing, Ryan Helsley bounced back with a scoreless inning.
Low: Jordan Walker was 0-of-3, striking in all three of his at-bats, which dropped his spring average to .182.
At the plate: Masyn Winn was 0-of-3 but reached base for the first time this spring on a walk, before he was thrown out trying to steal second … The Cardinals scored their runs in the eighth and ninth innings on a sacrifice fly by Michael Helman and a groundout by Bryan Torres … They were held to five hits, four singles and a double by Cesar Prieto.
On the mound: The only hit off starter Erick Fedde in his two innings of work was a home run by Isaac Paredes. Fedde finished his day with three strikeouts … Helsley allowed a hit and struck out one in his scoreless inning.
Worth noting: Sonny Gray pitched in a simulated game on a back field in Jupiter on Friday. Gray is one of only three of the 34 pitchers in camp yet to appear in an official spring game. Also still waiting to pitch are Alex Cornwell and Drew Rom, who had his throwing program paused because of renewed pain in his shoulder … Top pitching prospect Quinn Mathews likely will make his second spring appearance on Sunday in relief of starter Steven Matz … Torres is the only Cardinal to play in all seven games so far this spring.
Up next: Miles Mikolas will get the start on Saturday when the Cardinals return to Jupiter to host the Washington Nationals.
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