The St. Louis Cardinals dropped a 1-0 decision to the Washington Nationals at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on Tuesday in spring training play. Despite Bligh Madris's 1-for-1 effort at the plate, the Cardinals could not pull even when it mattered. On the mound, Dustin May turned in a solid outing, working 5.0 innings of 1-run ball with three strikeouts. Both clubs finished with 4 hits apiece in a closely contested battle. Despite the result, the coaching staff gathered useful data on the current state of the roster. Spring training losses sting, but the information gained will inform decisions as Opening Day approaches.
Key Performers
Bligh Madris was the offensive highlight at the plate, going 1-for-1. His steady bat was exactly what the lineup needed. Performances like this give the Cardinals confidence that the lineup is rounding into form.
Yohel Pozo also contributed, going 1-for-4, Nathan Church chipped in, going 1-for-3, and Pedro Pagés added to the attack, going 1-for-2. While there were individual bright spots, the lineup could not string hits together consistently.
On the other side of the diamond, Brady House led the Nationals offense with a 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI day. José Tena also contributed, going 2-for-2. Robert Hassell III added a 1-for-3 effort as well. The Nationals offense proved to be too much for the Cardinals pitching staff to contain on this particular day.
On the Mound
Dustin May took the loss after delivering a strong performance, working 5.0 innings while allowing 1 earned run on 4 hits with three strikeouts. He threw 81 pitches in the outing. It was exactly the kind of outing the Cardinals need from their pitching staff heading into the regular season.
The bullpen was outstanding, combining for 3.0 scoreless innings while striking out three. Spring training gives the coaching staff a chance to evaluate bullpen depth, and today provided useful information about the current state of the bullpen. Each reliever is auditioning for a roster spot, and innings like these factor into those decisions. Gus Varland recorded the save to close out the game.
How It Happened
Nationals got on the board first with a run in the first inning. Both teams finished with 4 hits apiece, with both teams playing clean defense. A crowd of 3,480 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was not the outcome the Cardinals were looking for, but spring training provides a forgiving environment to work through the rough patches. The focus remains on preparation and development, and the coaching staff will use today as a teaching opportunity. The regular season is right around the corner, and every game is a chance to improve.
