Result: Marlins 5, Cardinals 3
Weather: 78 degrees, sunny
By Rob Rains
JUPITER, Fla. – The statistics show that the Cardinals have a .184 team batting average this spring, the worst in the major leagues.
That’s not the performance that manager Oli Marmol said he has been watching, after the team was held to three hits again on Sunday in a loss to the Marlins.
“I think we’re in a really good spot,” Marmol said. “I really like where Noot (Lars Nootbaar) is at, where Nado (Nolan Arenado) is at, where Walker’s at. From a swing standpoint and a decision-making standpoint for this time in spring training we are in a good spot.
“I am not worried about our offense.”
One example of how the statistics can be misleading was Jordan Walker, who was 0-of-2 with a sacrifice fly on Sunday but stung the ball in all three at-bats.
“He’s taken some solid strides,” Marmol said. “All three at-bats were exactly what you want to see out of him. Very, very positive day for Jordan.”
Here is how Sunday’s game broke down:
High: Luken Baker had one of the Cardinals’ three hits, a two-run homer, his second of the spring.
Low: John King allowed five hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning, producing three runs, with his only two outs coming on a sacrifice fly and a pickoff-caught stealing.
At the plate: Nolan Gorman had his first hit of the spring, a double to left center, after starting the spring 0-of-12. He later scored on Walker’s sacrifice fly … Their only other hit was a double by Nootbaar … Masyn Winn and Ivan Herrera remained hitless for the spring.
On the mound: Steven Matz allowed two hits, one a solo home run, in his three innings of work. He walked two and struck out three … JoJo Romero worked a 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout. He has not allowed a run this spring.
Worth noting: Top pitching prospect Quinn Mathews was reassigned to the minor-league camp so he could remain on a starter’s schedule, including starting and pitching three innings on a back field on Sunday, “He did a phenomenal job,” Marmol said. “Even his meeting to transition to minor-league camp was awesome. It’s exciting for everybody because he’s already good but there’s areas we are speaking to where he can improve on which has nothing to do with taking the ball on game day but how he prepares for everything in between. It’s going to lead to an even better version of him.” … The Cardinals have suffered their first significant injury of the spring. Pitcher Zack Thompson has a grade 1 lat strain, John Mozeliak said, and will be shut down from throwing for three to four weeks at which point he will be re-evaluated. Thompson had only worked one inning in the first nine games … Also reassigned to the minor-league camp were pitchers Bailey Horn, Ian Bedell, Alex Cornwell, Cooper Hjerpe and Edwin Nunez and catchers Sammy Hernandez and Carlos Linarez, leaving 58 players in camp.
Up next: The Cardinals will have their first of two scheduled days off on Monday, then will split the squad for two games on Tuesday, hosting the Mets and going on the road to play the Nationals.
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