- Written by
Cole Claybourn
- Posted March 5, 2010 at 11:44 pm
It’s still very early in the Cardinals’ season, with just two spring training games under their belt, but for whatever it’s worth, some positive and negative signs are starting to show.
- In the Cardinals’ first spring training game on Thursday, a 17-11 loss to the Mets, Ryan Ludwick went 2-for-3 with a home run, double and three RBI. However, he followed it on Friday with an 0-for-3 performance. Also in Thursday’s game, backup infielder Ruben Gotay had a productive day with 2 hits and an RBI.
-2006 first-round pick Adam Ottavino pitched 2 scoreless innings with two strikeouts on Thursday. Francisco Samuel followed by giving six earned runs in just an inning of work. Samuel is looking to contend for a bullpen spot, but is likely to end up in the minors.
-Newly acquired pitcher Brad Penny took the mound in the Cardinals’ home Spring Training opener on Friday but underperformed, to say the least. Penny lasted two innings and gave up three runs on six hits against a Mets lineup that was without Jose Reyes, David Wright, and Jason Bay. He finished with no walks and strikeout to end the second. The Cardinals will need Penny to be a viable third starter behind Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright. Lance Lynn pitched three perfect innings and struck out three.
-On the offensive end on Friday, Colby Rasmus was about the only positive for the Cardinals, getting two hits and driving in three runs. The Cardinals’ offense, which featured its regular starters minus second baseman Skip Schumaker and injured shortstop Brendan Ryan, only mustered up nine hits and three runs. Nelson Figueroa pitched four innings with one hit and no earned runs to earn the win for the Mets
-Kyle Lohse will make his spring debut on Saturday against the Marlins and will try to give the Cardinals their first Spring Training win.
