JUPITER, Fla. — Right-hander Miles Mikolas held the Washington Nationals to one run over five innings in the Cardinals’ final spring training home game of the Grapefruit League season. However, the offense didn’t provide a wealth of run support in the final outing at Roger Dean Stadium.
The Cardinals scored two runs in the ninth inning to salvage a 2-2 tie with the Nationals on Saturday afternoon before they began final preparations for breaking camp in Florida and finishing out their spring training slate on the road in Arizona on Monday and Tuesday.
Mikolas allowed one run on six hits in five innings. He struck out three and didn’t walk a batter. The lone run against Mikolas scored on a sacrifice fly in the first inning. He all six hits he allowed were singles. Mikolas’ next appearance will be as the club’s opening day starter against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on March 28.
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The Nationals’ other run, an unearned run, came against reliever Riley O’Brien in the top of the ninth inning after a two-base throwing error by third baseman Jose Fermin.
The Cardinals tied the score in the bottom of the ninth thanks to a Bryan Torres leadoff double, an RBI single by and an RBI double by .
The Cardinals scratched out five hits against the Nationals, one apiece by Jordan Walker (1 for 3), Dylan Carlson (1 for 2, walk), Burleson (1 for 1, RBI, walk), Saggese (1 for 1, RBI) and Torres (1 for 1, run scored).
From earlier …
Cardinals send Victor Scott II to minor-league camp as they prepare to host Nationals
As the Cardinals enter their final weekend of Grapefruit League games, a clearer picture of the opening day roster has developed. In fact, the lineup they put on the field could be very close to the lineup against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Cardinals’ season opener.
Prior to Saturday afternoon’s game against the Washington Nationals at Roger Dean Stadium, the Cardinals re-assigned outfielder Victor Scott II and infielder Cesar Prieto to minor-league camp.
Scott, who won a Minor League Baseball Gold Glove as a center fielder last season, put himself in consideration for a spot on the opening day roster with starting center fielder Tommy Edman set to begin the season on the injured list.
Sending Scott down seems a clear indication that Dylan Carlson will handle the center field duties while Edman recovers from offseason wrist surgery.
The Cardinals also optioned right-handed reliever Nick Robertson, first baseman Luken Baker, infielder/outfielder Alfonso Rivas III and infielder outfielder Jared Young to Triple-A Memphis.
Following a rainout Friday, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol announced left-handed pitcher Zack Thompson made the club and will fill the rotation spot opened up by Sonny Gray’s injury. Gray will begin the season on the injured list as he continues to ramp after a hamstring strain interrupted his spring training progression.
Thompson, a former first-round draft pick, dedicated his offseason to making himself a viable option for the starting rotation after he began last season on the opening day roster in the bullpen.
“It feels like I just got my foot in the door,†Thompson said on Saturday morning. “I earned the opportunity. Now, it’s up to me to go do something with it and to prove them right.â€
Outfielder Lars Nootbaar (fractured ribs) will also begin the season on the injured list as will right-handed reliever Keynan Middleton (forearm strain) and Edman.
Marmol also said left-hander Matthew Liberatore will begin the season on the major-league roster in the bullpen. He and Thompson had both been viewed as candidates to provide starting rotation depth.
Thompson and Liberatore, who are close friends, had also previously spent time in the majors pitching in relief. Asked about his reaction to finding out that both made the roster, Thompson described it as “awesome.â€
“It’s a little nerve-racking when everybody is getting called in (the manager’s office),†Thompson said. “You’ve got to kind of contain your nerves and wait and see how he reacts. He came right up to me and was like, ‘Hey, congrats. I heard the news.’
“I’m like, ‘How did it go for you?’ To hear he made it, that was awesome. I’m so happy for him.â€
Thompson said their meetings with the coaching staff were back-to-back.
The Cardinals’ bullpen for today’s game include left-handers John King, JoJo Romero and Liberatore as well as right-handers Ryan Fernandez, Giovanny Gallegos, Andrew Kittredge and Riley O’Brien.
Right-handers Ryan Helsley and Andre Pallante also remain in big-league camp.
The Cardinals will play their final spring training game in Florida on Sunday. They’ll then travel to Arizona for a pair of exhibition games against the Chicago Cubs on Monday and Tuesday before Thursday’s season opener in California.
Here’s today’s lineup against the Nationals:
1. Brendan Donovan, LF
2. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
3. Nolan Gorman, 2B
4. Nolan Arenado, 3B
5. Willson Contreras, C
6. Matt Carpenter, DH
7. Jordan Walker, RF
8. Dylan Carlson, CF
9. Masyn Winn, SS
Pitcher: Miles Mikolas (RHP). Also listed as available in the bullpen: LHP John King, LHP Matthew Liberatore, LHP JoJo Romero, RHP Ryan Fernandez, RHP Giovanny Gallegos, RHP Andrew Kittredge, RHP Riley O’Brien.