PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Sunday’s show of the Cardinals against the New York Mets’ powerful tandem of Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer didn’t go any better than might have been expected.
Harrison Bader had two hits and a run that beat deGrom again, and Dylan Carlson doubled deGrom. Alec Burleson prevailed in each and there was a late, long homer from Anderson Tejeda, but the Cardinals’ youth-laden lineup brought up little else in a 7-3 loss.
deGrom and Scherzer worked nine innings together and fanned out 12, five from deGrom in three frames and seven from Scherzer in six innings, though Scherzer allowed a long homer from backup infielder Tejeda in the ninth.
Right-handers Dakota Hudson and Jake Woodford each played three innings for the Cardinals. Hudson allowed four runs – all on home runs – including a triple drive to the right from backup catcher Tomas Nido in the second inning.
In the third, Francisco Lindor lined the first of his two home runs to right field. The wind was blowing that way, but Lindor, who had a reading of 107.7 mph, and Pete Alonso on a previous double, who registered an exit speed of 110.3, made hard contact.
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Woodford allowed a run in three innings but escaped a base-loaded point in the fifth by causing veteran Robinson Cano to bat in a doubles play
Outfield prospect Burleson scored his first hit in 16 at-bats in Second Off deGrom this spring. He singled out Scherzer in the seventh.
Infielder Nolan Gorman, one of the Cardinals’ top picks, was unable to play due to lower back strains. Gorman, who turns two for 16 this spring, is listed as day-to-day.
Former Mets catcher Ali Sanchez doubled on Scherzer in seventh place, driving the Cardinals’ second heat in Burleson.
The Cardinals’ top pitcher Matthew Liberatore worked the last two innings and gave up a long homer with two runs from Lindor on a misplaced fastball in the seventh after Liberatore footed the leadoff man.
The Cardinals’ spring record is 5-3 with seven games left.