Marlins @ Cardinals 3/2

Update ( 3:55 ) :  Aside from the fourth inning from Blake Hawsworth, the St. Louis pitching was pretty good. Hawksworth gave up five runs on five hits in just the one inning of work.  McClellan was the most impressive pitcher of the day.  The Cardinals bats chipped away at the lead, but ultimately came up short.  The at-bat that stands out in my mind was the bases loaded, no out, double play grounder off the bat of Juan Gonzalez. The three batters before Juan walked.  Rule 5 pick Brian Barton hasn’t done anything to impress me either, but continues to get a longer look than some because he may have to be shipped back to Cleveland if he doesn’t break camp with the big club.  Here’s a link to the official box score.

Tomorrow, the Cardinals play an away game against the Washington Nationals.  I’d like to know what people thought of today’s format, so as always, comments are welcome.

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Update ( 3:40 ) :  Cardinals’ pitching prospect Chris Perez was in to pitch the ninth.  He got the first two batters on a fly out and ground out, walked the third, and got the third out on a fly ball to center.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Marlins brought in Doug Waechter to close it out.  The Cards went down in order, including a pop out by Colby Rasmus for the first out.  The Marlins won 5-4.  The Birds are now 2-2 in Grapefruit play, and 3-2 overall.

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Update ( 3:25 ) :  Jimenez stayed in the game to pitch the eighth.  He made quick work of the Marlins, getting two fly ball outs and one ground out to David Freese at third.

The Cardinals also went down quickly.  After a Mather strikeout, both Josh Phelps and Freese flew out in foul territory.  The pitcher was Renyel Pinto.

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Update ( 3:14 ) :  Kelvin Jimenez pitched the seventh.  He unconventionally got two outs on two pitches, allowing a first pitch single, but getting the double play on the very next pitch.  The third out was a long fly ball to center field.

Jesus Delgado was the seventh inning pitcher for Florida.  He struck out Molina, but then gave up a triple to Izturis.  Miles brought the run in with a ground ball to the right side.  Another ground out by Barton ended the inning with the Cardinals still trailing 5-4.

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Update ( 3:00 ) :  Randy Flores came into the sixth throwing strikes.  He got Carroll to fly out on the first pitch, and then struck out Rabelo.  After a walk to Treanor, De Aza grounded out to end it.

Taylor Tankersly was the third left-handed pitcher for the Marlins.  He started by walking the bases loaded. Gonzalez grounded into a double play, while Mather scored from third.  Ludwick was called out on strikes, leaving a runner stranded in scoring position.

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Update ( 2:32 ) :  Veteran Russ Springer came in to pitch the fifth.  After Uggla grounded out to third, Cantu doubled off the glove of the diving Barton.  Willingham grounded back to the mound for the second out, and Bozied popped out to Pujols.

The Cards went down in order easily in the bottom of the inning.  Izturis and Miles both grounded out, and Barton struck out to remain hitless in Grapefruit League play this spring.

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Update ( 2:17 ) :  Blake Hawksworth entered the game to start the fourth.  He got Ramirez to fly out to left, but trouble started when Uggla doubled down the left field line for his second double of the afternoon. Cantu chopped a ball softly to third, for an infield hit to put runners at the corners.  Willingham drew the first walk of the game to load the bases with one out.  Back-to-back walks earned Bozied an RBI, and gave the Marlins a 1-0 lead.  After three more RBI hits and couple of strikeouts, the bleeding finally stopped. Marlins went up 5-0 on a very lengthy inning from Hawksworth.

Aaron Thompson, also a lefty, began the bottom of the fourth.  Mather started the Cards’ half with a double, and advanced to third on a single by Pulols.  Both runners scored on an RBI double, over the head of Willingham, off the bat of Troy Glaus.  Gonzalez grounded out to short, followed by a strike out by Ludwick, and a short fly out to left by Molina.  After four, it was a 5-2 Fish lead.

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Update ( 1:41 ) :  The Marlins went down quickly in the third.  Mike Rabelo flew out to right, Matt Treanor struck out looking, and Alejandro De Aza grounded out to first, 3-1.

Olsen retired all three batters he faced in the bottom half.  Izturis hit the ball hard, but right at Uggla at second.  Miles, hitting from the right side, lined out to left, and Barton grounded out to third for the second time today.

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Update ( 1:30 ) :  After an action packed first inning, McClellan settled in, striking out both Josh Willingham and former Cardinal Tagg Bozied, and got Brett Carroll to fly out deep to left.

Three up and three down in the bottom of the second.  Gonzalez, Ludwick, and Molina all grounded out to short.

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Update ( 1:18 ) :  McClellan got plenty of help from his defense in the top of the first.  After Hanley Ramirez singled up the middle, Dan Uggla doubled to right.  Ramirez was out at the plate on a relay throw from Albert Pujols.  Jorge Cantu lined into a double play to end the threat.

In the bottom half, Pujols doubled down the line, and both Mather and Glaus were called out on strikes.

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In a rematch from yesterday, the Cardinals hope to even the spring series against the Marlins.  I’ll be updating today’s post frequently, with all the news and highlights from the game, so check back often. We’re about an hour away from the first pitch.  The Cards face lefty Scott Olsen to start, so Tony La Russa will counter with an all right-handed lineup.

1. Brian Barton  CF
2. Joe Mather  LF
3. Albert Pujols  1B
4. Troy Glaus  3B
5. Juan Gonzalez  DH
6. Ryan Ludwick  RF
7. Yadier Molina  C
8. Cesar Izturis  SS
9. Aaron Miles  2B

Kyle McClellan gets the start for the Redbirds.  Derrick Goold has more notes from the ballpark here.