The St. Louis Cardinals dropped their second straight game to open their spring training Grapefruit League schedule Tuesday, putting Mike Matheny’s career as manager of a team that looks a little like the Cardinals for a few innings in Jupiter, Florida, in doubt. Prospect Matt Adams paced the Cardinals with a grand slam and Mark Hamilton doubled in the losing effort, while a newly svelte Jake Westbrook struck out two and walked two in two scoreless innings. Adam Reifer took the loss.
The mothership has the box-score. Rule 5-er Erik Komatsu, who’ll need to beat Adron Chambers for the fifth outfielder job if he’s to stay in the Cardinals’ organization, doubled to keep himself in the running, while Maikel Cleto struggled in a relief role, walking three in a little less than two innings.
The Cardinals will take on the Washington Nationals Wednesday at noon central. Super-prospect Shelby Miller is set to make his first caeer Grapefruit League start; one can only imagine Mike Matheny has a lot riding on it.