Shelby Miller allowed a run in two innings in his first Grapefruit League start and Daniel Descalso hit his first home run of spring training, but the St. Louis Cardinals were unable to hold down the Washington Nationals for their first win of the Grapefruit League season. Lance Lynn blew the save, allowing a home run that was compounded by a defensive miscue to produce a final score of 3-3.
Tyler Greene added an RBI single and, with Shelby Miller out of the game early, fellow super-prospect Tyrell Jenkins, just 19, threw a scoreless inning in his first spring appearance. The newly crowned relief pitcher of pitching prospects’ past paid a visit, too: Adam Ottavino, moved permanently to the bullpen after a checkered career in the rotation following his selection in the first round of the 2006 draft, struck out four batters in one inning thanks to a wild pitch. Marc Rzepczynski was also strong, striking out two in one inning of work.
Matt Adams, starring in the early going of spring training with Lance Berkman taking a veteran’s approach to the first games, went 2-5 with a strikeout. The Cardinals and the Boston Red Sox will meet in Jupiter on Thursday, for a 12:05 game that will be broadcast on KMOX.