Postcard from Cardinals spring training camp for Friday, March 13, 2026
Result: Cardinals 5, Astros 4
Weather: Overcast, 72 degrees
By Rob Rains
JUPITER, Fla. – Colton Ledbetter, one of the minor leaguers acquired in the trade that sent Brendan Donovan to the Mariners, received a notice on Thursday night that he would be in the starting lineup for the Cardinals on Friday night.
He admitted to having a little trouble sleeping – but he should have had a much easier time going to bed after Friday night’s game.
For the second time this spring, Ledbetter delivered a walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth inning, this time driving in two runs with a two-out single that lifted the Cardinals from a 4-3 deficit to the victory.
Even before the winning hit it had been a good night for Ledbetter with a single, drawing a walk and throwing a runner out at second base.
“It’s really exciting,” said Ledbetter, who was playing left field. “It’s good to get that feeling back of competitiveness. Building confidence and knowing it’s the same game. It’s me against the pitcher.”
Ledbetter has spent most of the spring trying to get know people in the organization. After finishing last season in Double A in the Rays system, he had just arrived in their early spring camp – and later in the day he had been traded
“I’m just trying to learn everything I can,” Ledbetter said. “Victor Scott II had a bunch of good things to tell me. Just trying to let it soak in.”
Manager Oli Marmol enjoyed Ledbetter’s special moment – again.
“It was a good way to end the night,” Marmol said. “It was fun. It’s actually important (for young players). It’s cool when someone takes advantage of it and leaves their mark.
“We wanted to see him again in a full game so we asked if he could come back for the night game. Glad we did.”
Here is how Friday night’s game broke down:
High: Blaze Jordan and Ramon Mendoza hit back-to-back homers in a span of three pitches in the fourth inning, Jordan’s traveling an estimated 422 feet.
Low: Pedro Pages was hitless in three at-bats, striking out twice, as his spring average dropped to .095.
At the plate: Scott drove in the first run with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly … JJ Wetherholt had a single in three at-bats … The Cardinals only had five hits … A walk and an error started the ninth inning rally, followed by a sacrifice bunt which advanced the runners to second and third before Ledbetter’s two-out single to center.
On the mound: Kyle Leahy pushed his pitch count to 74 pitches as he continues to build up his arm in his transition to becoming a starter. He gave up four runs on six hits, walked one and struck out five … Ryne Stanek struck out three in his inning of work while JoJo Romero and Riley O’Brien also worked a scoreless inning.
Worth noting: Ivan Herrera missed his seventh consecutive game because of inflammation in his knee. He is expected to return as a DH before he resumes catching, and the Cardinals do want him to catch more before spring training ends. “It’s a matter of what that ramp up looks like,” said Marmol. Herrera has only played in three games with a total of seven at-bats. He has made two appearances behind the plate, a total of eight innings … There is still no timetable on when Lars Nootbaar will be medically cleared for full baseball activities. “He’s been diligent about going through the process and we can’t skip any steps,” Marmol said … Rain during the day wiped out Hunter Dobbins’ scheduled start in a minor-league game. He is now scheduled to pitch on Saturday.
Up next: Andre Pallante will get the start on Saturday against the Marlins in Jupiter. The Cardinals will be the visiting team.
Follow Rob Rains on X @RobRains
