The St. Louis Cardinals secured a 5-4 victory over the Houston Astros at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Friday in spring training action. Blaze Jordan paced the offense, going 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. Kyle Leahy worked 4.0 innings on the mound, allowing 4 earned runs on 6 hits. The Astros out-hit the Cardinals 8-5 on the day. It was an encouraging performance for the Cardinals as they continue sharpening the roster for the regular season. Games like these serve as a valuable measuring stick for where the team stands heading into the campaign.
Key Performers
Blaze Jordan was the key contributor at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI. The long ball provided a major boost to the offensive attack. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Cardinals offense.
Ramon Mendoza chipped in, going 1-for-1 with a home run and an RBI, Colton Ledbetter added to the attack, going 2-for-3 with two RBI, and JJ Wetherholt provided support, going 1-for-3. It was a balanced attack that kept the pressure on from the first pitch to the last.
On the other side of the diamond, Christian Walker led the Astros offense with a 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI day. Taylor Trammell also contributed, going 1-for-3 with two RBI. Zach Cole added a 2-for-4 effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Cardinals pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Kyle Leahy got the start, having a rough go of it, working 4.0 innings while allowing 4 earned runs on 6 hits with five strikeouts. He threw 74 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen was spotless, combining for 5.0 scoreless innings while striking out five. The relief corps did its job in protecting the lead after the starter departed. Managing the bullpen workload is a key priority during the spring, and every outing helps the coaching staff gauge who is ready for high-leverage situations.
Among the relievers, Ryne Stanek stood out with 1.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out three. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
Astros got on the board first with a run in the second inning. The Cardinals answered with a run in the third. Astros responded with three runs in the fourth. The Cardinals countered with two runs in the fourth. The Cardinals plated two runs in the ninth. The Cardinals spread their scoring across three different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. Astros out-hit the Cardinals 8-5, with 1 error committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 5,384 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was a productive day for the Cardinals, who continue to put the pieces in place ahead of the regular season. The coaching staff will take the positives from this outing and use the remaining spring games to finalize the roster. Days like this one suggest the Cardinals are heading in the right direction as Opening Day draws closer.
