MESA, Ariz. — The last member of the Cardinals' new-look rotation scheduled to appear in the regular season left quite an impression on the team's last game of spring training.
Less than a week after he conceded to fighting his delivery and searching for a feel on his fastball, Kyle Gibson blitzed through the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday before the Cardinals continued their journey west toward Los Angeles and opening day at Dodger Stadium. Gibson struck out nine and allowed one run on four hits in five innings against the Cubs.
Through the first seven innings, Cardinals pitchers had 14 strikeouts.
As if completing the dress rehearsal for the season, closer Ryan Helsley came in to get the final outs of spring training and secure a 7-2 victory.
After the game the Cardinals finalized their bullpen by optioning lefty John King to Class AAA Memphis. Ryan Fernandez, the team's Rule 5 pick from Boston, makes the opening day roster and will be part of the right-handed relief group out of the bullpen.
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The Cardinals also optioned catcher Pedro Pages and infielder Thomas Saggese to Class AAA Memphis. Lefty Drew Rom will go on injured list to start year.
The Cardinals will not finalize their active roster for opening day until making one more move with the 40-player roster to clear a spot.
A year after taking their rivalry all the way to London, the Cardinals visited the Cubs in Arizona for what's believed to be the first series between the two clubs at the Cubs' spring training site. The Cardinals, those classic Florida snowbirds, completed a two-day stopover in the Cactus League and swept both games from the Cubs in front of crowds larger than 15,000 at Sloan Park.
Paul Goldschmidt doubled over the head of Cubs center fielder Cody Bellinger in the first inning and scored to begin the Cardinals' steady pulse of offense. Goldschmidt paused going around the base because he was unsure if Nolan Gorman's base hit would be caught. The Cardinals' first baseman was scheduled for one or two at-bats and three innings, and he opted for just the one at-bat and first run of the game to end his spring.
The Cardinals had at least a run in each of the first three innings, and midway through the seventh they had opened up a 6-1 lead. The Cardinals' sixth run scored on a wild pitch.
Backup catcher Ivan Herrera had a ranging, tumbling catch on a popup in foul territory to steal an out in the bottom of the eighth.
He hit a solo homer in the top of the ninth.
Gibson, who will start the Cardinals' fifth game of the season as they open a series in San Diego, entered Tuesday's game with an ERA slightly above 10.00 for the spring. He left the game having slashed three runs off of it and overtaken other pitchers for the strikeout lead. In his previous outing, Gibson felt he was inconsistent with his sinker, and that's where his game begins. With it, he can stretch the strike zone with a slider that has also misbehaved this spring.
Eight of his nine strikeouts came on the slider.
Alec Burleson finalized his bid to be the Cardinals' opening day DH against the Dodgers with two well-stung hits that raised his spring average to .375.
The trip to Arizona was costly for the Cardinals, who revealed Tuesday morning that center fielder Dylan Carlson will begin the year on the injured list. He damaged his shoulder during a collision with teammate Jordan Walker on Monday against the Cubs. The Cardinals immediately promoted Victor Scott II to the majors and he arrived shortly before game time Tuesday.
He entered the game as a pinch-hitter and quickly stung a single.
Masyn Winn finished the game by rushing in on a meek grounder and throwing on the run for the final out of spring training. The victory gives the Cardinals a 13-12-5 record to close out the exhibition season.
They'll easily make their dinner reservations in LA.
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