Result: Cardinals 6, Nationals 2
Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy
By Rob Rains
JUPITER, Fla. – There was no disguising the two roster battles remaining as the Cardinals began their final week of spring training on Monday.
They were printed right on the lineup card for the game against the Nationals in West Palm Beach.
Victor Scott and Michael Siani, competing for the center field spot, were in the top two spots in the order – until Siani had to be scratched moments before the game because of illness.
The other battle for the backup infielder spot between Jose Fermin and Jose Barrero did take play out on the field, with Fermin having the better day.
Fermin had two doubles in five at-bats and drove in four runs, three coming on his second double, to lead the Cardinals to the victory.
Fermin raised his spring average to .257 while Barrero, who was hitless in four at-bats, saw his average fall to .217.
Here is how Monday’s game broke down:
High: Scott hit his second home run of the spring and also had an infield single, raising his spring average to .371.
Low: The illness that kept Siani from playing a day after he had his first two-hit game of the spring.
At the plate: Jordan Walker was back in the lineup after getting extra at-bats on the back fields on Sunday and had a double and walked in four plate appearances … Ivan Herrera drove in a run with a sacrifice fly … Fermin’s first double drove in one run in the third inning and then he cleared the bases with his second double in the seventh … Scott’s homer came earlier in the seventh.
On the mound: Erick Fedde worked five innings, allowing three hits and one unearned run. He walked one and struck out four in his best start of the spring … Ryan Fernandez allowed a run in his inning of work … Kyle Leahy worked two more scoreless innings, with three strikeouts. He has not allowed a run in 10 spring innings.
Worth noting: Righthanded reliever Nick Anderson, in camp on a minor-league contract, was reassigned to the minor-league camp, leaving 30 players in the major-league camp … Manage Oli Marmol said one of the topics of conversation among the Cardinals staff has been the idea of beginning the season with a six-man rotation but a final decision has not been made.
Up next: The Cardinals will be back in Jupiter to play the Marlins on Tuesday. They have not announced a starting pitcher for the game.
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