Cardinals fall 5-3 to Red Sox

In their second game of Grapefruit League action, the Cardinals fell 5-3 to the Boston Red Sox.
Feb 19, 2013; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals player John Gast (76) poses for a picture during photo day at Roger Dean Stadium. Image Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
John Gast pitched the first two innings while Tyler Lyons threw the third and fourth innings for the Cardinals. In 20 starts for Memphis last season, Gast was 9-5 with a 5.10 ERA. This was after Gast started the season in Springfield where the southpaw had a 4-2 record over 8 starts with an impressive 1.93 ERA. Meanwhile, Lyons also saw action with both teams last season, where he had a combined 9-13 record in 27 starts and a 4.13 ERA.

Gast gave up two runs to Boston in the second inning while Lyons was able to keep them scoreless.

The Cardinals’ first run came in the 5th inning when Daniel Descalso hit a solo shot to right field.

While Edward Mujica pitched a solid fifth inning for the Cardinals, Sam Freeman was anything but solid in the 6th. After giving up a single, hitting a batter, and another single, the bases were loaded for former Cardinal minor leaguer Mark Hamilton. Hamilton drew a walk, scoring another run for the Red Sox. A sac fly to center would score another run before the Cardinals were able to escape the inning but the damage was done.

In the bottom of the 6th, the Cardinals rallied and scored two runs but it would not be enough to win.

KMOX has a listing of which spring training games they are broadcasting. If you have the Gameday Audio package, today’s game against Houston is not one that KMOX is brodacasting. Rather, you have to listen to the Houston Astros call on KBME. The next broadcast on KMOX will be this Thursday against the Miami Marlins.

Meanwhile, general manager John Mozeliak spoke to Fox Sports about whether Oscar Taveras could be playing in the major leagues this season.

"“I certainly wouldn’t bet against it at this point,” Mozeliak said in an interview with FOXSports.com. “He’s a tremendous talent. The thing he has going against him right now is we have a very veteran outfield. For him to get at-bats, he’s much better off developing at his age.“If I knew he’d play every day, it might be a different question.”"

So, really, it’s a matter of Carlos Beltran‘s health. Or the health of any outfielder for that matter.