The St. Louis Cardinals picked up a 10-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium on Friday in spring training action. Joshua Báez paced the offense, going 1-for-1 with a home run and two RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. On the mound, Michael McGreevy turned in a solid outing, working 4.0 innings of 1-run ball with four strikeouts. The Cardinals finished with 13 hits on the day while holding the Orioles to 12. 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

Joshua Báez was the key contributor at the plate, going 1-for-1 with a home run and two 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.

Nelson Velázquez chipped in, going 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI, Yohel Pozo added to the attack, going 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI, and Iván Herrera provided support, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. It was a balanced attack that kept the pressure on from the first pitch to the last.

On the other side of the diamond, Ryan Mountcastle led the Orioles offense with a 3-for-3 with an RBI day. Willy Vasquez also contributed, going 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI. Ike Irish added a 2-for-2 effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Cardinals pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.

On the Mound

Michael McGreevy earned the win after pitching effectively, working 4.0 innings while allowing 1 earned run on 4 hits with four strikeouts. He threw 60 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.

The bullpen combined for 5.0 innings of work, allowing 1 earned run 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, Matt Pushard stood out with 1.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out two. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.

How It Happened

The Cardinals struck first, tallying a run in the fourth inning. Orioles answered with a run in the fourth. The Cardinals responded with two runs in the fifth. The Cardinals pushed across a run in the sixth. The Cardinals plated four runs in the seventh. The Cardinals added two runs in the ninth. Orioles responded with a run in the ninth. The Cardinals spread their scoring across five different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. The Cardinals out-hit Orioles 13-12 on the day, with 1 error committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 6,510 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.