The St. Louis Cardinals cruised to a 7-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Monday in spring training action. Chase Davis paced the offense, going 2-for-3 with two home runs and three RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. On the mound, Matthew Liberatore turned in a solid outing, working 5.0 innings of 2-run ball with seven strikeouts. Both clubs finished with 6 hits apiece in a closely contested battle. 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
Chase Davis was the offensive highlight at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two home runs and three 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.
JJ Wetherholt also contributed, going 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI, Joshua Báez chipped in, going 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI, and Masyn Winn added to the attack, 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, Sam Huff led the Orioles offense with a 1-for-2 with a home run and an RBI day. Jhonkensy Noel also contributed, going 1-for-3 with an RBI. Blaze Alexander added a 1-for-3 effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Cardinals pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Matthew Liberatore got the start, pitching effectively, working 5.0 innings while allowing 2 earned runs on 5 hits with seven strikeouts. He threw 65 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen was outstanding, combining for 4.0 scoreless innings while striking out seven. 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 Svanson 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, pushing across two runs in the third inning. Orioles struck back with a run in the fourth. Orioles added a run in the fifth. The Cardinals responded with two runs in the sixth. The Cardinals pushed across three runs in the seventh. The Cardinals spread their scoring across three different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. Both teams finished with 6 hits apiece, with 1 error committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 4,122 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.
