Result: Cardinals 6, Yankees 5
Weather: 79 degrees, partly cloudy
By Rob Rains
JUPITER, Fla. – Box score lines, especially in spring training, can be a little deceiving.
But there was nothing about Nolan Gorman’s performance on Sunday that needed more explanation that what was included in the box score.
Gorman, after a slow start to the spring, hit his first home run and added a double in the Cardinals win over the Yankees.
After starting the spring 1-of-16, Gorman has four hits with only one strikeout in his last 12 at-bats.
“The past few games have been pretty good, hitting the ball hard,” Gorman said. “A homer is always nice. I think early on I wasn’t happy with where I was. There were some things to clean up still and the games are going to tell you that.
“It was good to get that and be able to adjust to it and to be able to get on the right track.”
Here is how Sunday’s game broke down:
High: The Cardinals hit four home runs, the final one from Cesar Prieto in the eighth inning that broke a 5-5 tie and gave the Cardinals the win.
Low: Andre Pallante allowed eight hits and four runs, on two two-run homers, in four innings.
At the plate: The other home runs came from Alec Burleson and Matt Koperniak, his second of the spring, as he battles for one of the final bench spots on the roster … Masyn Winn was 1-of-3 and is now 3-of-26 this spring … Nolan Arenado was hitless in three at-bats, dropping his average to .160 … The Cardinals were 0-of-6 with runners in scoring position.
On the mound: The best pitcher for the Cardinals was Chris Roycroft, who earned the save by protecting the one-run lead in the ninth, striking out the side on 14 pitches. Roycroft has not allowed a run in five innings this spring … Pallante and Michael McGreevy combined to allow 13 hits and five runs, including three home runs, over 6 2/3 innings … JoJo Romero gave up one hit in a scoreless inning, striking out two.
Worth noting: Victor Scott II had two outfield assists, starting a relay with Winn that cut down a runner at the plate and then throwing out a runner trying to stretch a single into a double … Brendan Donovan was scheduled to play left field for the first time this spring but that lineup had been changed to give him more work pre-game but the change was not passed on to the public relations staff, which had him listed in the starting lineup … Jordan Walker is scheduled to be re-evaluated on Monday with a decision coming afterward about how fast he will be able to ramp up his baseball activities and return to the lineup. Walker has been out since Wednesday because of inflammation in his left knee … Catchers Jimmy Crooks and Leo Bernal, infielder Jeremy Rivas and outfielder Bryan Torres were re-assigned to the minor-league camp while catcher Yohel Pozao was added as a non-roster player.
Up next: The Cardinals have another night game scheduled for Monday, against the Mets in Port St. Lucie. Sonny Gray is set to make his second start of the spring,
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