// a href = ./ // St Louis News, Weather, Sports, The Big 550 AM, St Louis Traffic, Breaking News in St Louis

CRAIG AND HOLLIDAY HOMER IN CARDINALS' WIN

JUPITER (AP) -- Allen Craig has been prevented from playing first by a sore shoulder. The injury doesn't appear to have affected his swing, though.

Craig and Matt Holliday each hit their first homers of spring training, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 10-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Monday.

Craig was starting as the designated hitter. He reached base in all three at-bats, adding a walk and an RBI single.

"I feel good," he said. "We're just taking it extremely slow. It's a really long spring. I want to get out here and play in the field, but at the same time the season starts April 1 and I want to be ready for that."

The homers were back-to-back as part of a five-run third inning that broke the game open.

Holliday's two-run drive landed on the balcony of the Miami Marlins clubhouse beyond the left-center field wall, driving in Kolton Wong. The Marlins and Cardinals share the Roger Dean Stadium complex.

"I hit it pretty good," Holiday said. "I'm just trying to put good swings out there."

Pete Kozma added a solo homer in the seventh for St. Louis.

Adam Wainwright, the Cardinals' likely opening-day starter, allowed four hits while striking out three in 2 2-3 scoreless innings.

"The ball came out nice - I moved the ball around a little bit," Wainwright said "It was a good place to start."

Wainwright's counterpart, Phillip Humber didn't fare as well.

After needing only eight pitches to retire the Cardinals in the first inning, Humber walked the first two batters of the inning before David Freese lined a pitch off the right-field wall, scoring Craig.

Humber issued another walk but managed to get out of the inning without allowing another run.

"I just didn't throw strikes," said Humber, who was selected off waivers from the White Sox during the offseason. "It's not the ideal second inning that you want to have, but it's my first time out there. I'm not going to get myself worked up over it."

Former Cardinals pitcher and outfielder Rick Ankiel received an ovation from the crowd before his first at-bat, then promptly ripped a double to the left-center wall. Ankiel was thrown out trying to stretch the play into a triple. He went 1 for 2.

NOTES: Manager Mike Matheny acknowledged the Cardinals have considered giving Yadier Molina some reps at first base. Craig and Matt Adams are both dealing with injuries and Molina could play some first base for Puerto Rico in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. ... Matheny said pitcher Jake Westbrook will get his first start of the spring on Thursday against Miami. Joe Kelly is slated to start Friday at Houston. ... Two Cardinals' former first-round draft choices (Tyler Greene and Brett Wallace) and one second-round selection (Rick Ankiel) appeared in the Astros' starting lineup on Monday. Another former Cardinal farmhand, C. J. Fick also pitched in relief. Jeff Luhnow was the St. Louis VP of Scouting and Player Development before becoming the Houston general manager. ...Houston pitcher Paul Clemens slipped on the wet field in the late innings while trying to cover first and remained on the ground for about a minute. Houston trainers came out to check on Clemens, who walked off the field without help.

© 2013 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED. Learn more about our PRIVACY POLICY and TERMS OF USE.
Last modified on Tuesday, 26 February 2013 07:42

Latest News

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
Prev Next
Horses, trainers prepare for 2013 Preakness

Horses, trainers prepare for 2013 Preakness

BALTIMORE (AP) - The second leg of horse racing's Triple Crown leaves the starting gate this afternoon in Maryland and the trainer for Kentucky Derby winner Orb says he thinks his ...

Gov. Nixon gives mixed review to legislators' efforts

Gov. Nixon gives mixed review to legislators' efforts

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Gov. Jay Nixon is giving a mixed review to Missouri's 2013 legislative session.    The Democratic governor praised lawmakers for boosting funding for ed...

Police investigate death of Cahokia infant

An investigation is underway in the Metro East after a 4-month-old baby was found dead in his home. Cahokia police say it appears the child died from suffocation. Officers say the...

Toddler left behind by daycare workers at St. Charles restaurant

Toddler left behind by daycare workers at St. Charles r…

Employees at a St. Charles Chuck E. Cheese are being praised for how they dealt with a child being left behind yesterday. The St. Charles police say a two-year-old boy was left be...

Group protests proposal lifting Boy Scouts' gay ban

Group protests proposal lifting Boy Scouts' gay ban

Members of a national organization are protesting a proposed change to the Boy Scouts. OnMyHonor.net organized a rally today in the Central West End. The protestors were arguing a...

New regulations on scrap metal dealers could be on the way

New regulations on scrap metal dealers could be on the …

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri lawmakers have given final approval to legislation that would require scrap metal dealers to collect more information from the people who sell t...

Illinois Senate passes medical marijuana bill

Illinois Senate passes medical marijuana bill

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Medical marijuana use in Illinois is now in Gov. Pat Quinn's hands after the state Senate approved legislation. Lawmakers voted 35-21 Friday to send the m...

Police ID man who died during road rage incident

Police ID man who died during road rage incident

Police have identified the man who died during a bizarre road rage incident. The incident started on westbound I-70 at the Union exit when an SUV, driven by Darvin Wallace, starte...

Genesco Windows
© 2013 KTRS All Rights Reserved

St Louis Web Design