PITTSBURGH (AP) — Francisco Liriano tied a Pirates opening day record by striking out 10 and singled home the first run of the 2016 Major League Baseball season for good measure, sending Pittsburgh past the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1 on Sunday.

It was 39 degrees when Liriano threw the first pitch of the year. He allowed just three hits and walked five in six shutout innings. His RBI hit in the second came off Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright.

David Freese, the 2011 World Series MVP for the Cardinals, had two hits against his former club in his debut with Pittsburgh. Francisco Cervelli and Gregory Polanco also had two hits apiece for the Pirates.

Wainwright gave up three runs in six innings, walking three and striking out three in his first regular season start since tearing his Achilles last April.

The Cardinals tried to rally in the ninth against Mark Melancon, who led the majors in saves last year. Matt Carpenter hit an RBI single with two outs but Matt Adams, representing the tying run, flied out to end it.

Pittsburgh pointed to the honor of playing the first of the 2,430 games in the majors this season as a sign of respect for how far the franchise has come under manager Clint Hurdle.

The Cardinals and the Pirates have the two best records in MLB since the start of 2013, fueling a rivalry that — along with the ascension of the Chicago Cubs — could make the race for the NL Central crown one of the most compelling storylines yet again.

Hurdle specified the need to get off to a better start than the 18-22 slog that slowed the Pirates last spring as vital if the team wants to earn its first division title since 1992.

Liriano wasted little time making a solid initial impression, even if most of the sun-dappled crowd at PNC Park was bundled in parkas and beanies to ward off the chill. There was snow on the ground in most Pittsburgh suburbs on Sunday morning, and crews had to deal with ice on the protective tarp.

University of Pittsburgh running back James Conner, battling cancer, gave the crowd a jolt by throwing out the first pitch and vowing to play in 2016. Liriano built off that energy and spent six innings befuddling the Cardinals with his signature mix of sliders and changeups.

Liriano gave the Pirates the lead in the second by singling home Polanco, and John Jaso followed with an RBI single to make it 2-0. That was more than enough for Liriano, whose briefly flirted with danger in the fourth and sixth. He struck out Yadier Molina and Kolten Wong to get out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth and stranded three more runners in the sixth when Wong popped up and Jedd Gyorko grounded out.

Liriano’s 10 strikeouts matched the club’s opening day mark John Candelaria set in 1983 and Liriano matched in 2014.

Josh Harrison gave Liriano extra cushion with a sacrifice fly in the fifth and Jordy Mercer added an RBI double off Seth Maness in the eighth.

OPENING JITTERS

While the teams may have been ready for the MLB opener, the replay system at PNC Park was not. The start was delayed 10 minutes due to an issue with the replay equipment in the visitor’s dugout. The difficulties persisted, and both teams were allowed unlimited crew chief reviews, which are usually limited to the seventh inning or later or potential home runs.

A replay in the first inning confirmed that Andrew McCutchen was hit by a pitch from Wainwright.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Left fielder Tommy Pham left in the middle of the second inning with tightness in his left oblique. Matt Holliday, who was making his first career start at first base after more than 1,663 games in either left field or as a designated hitter, moved back to left to replace Pham. Adams took over at first for Holliday. … Reliever Jordan Walden will be out indefinitely after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain of his right latissimus dorsi muscle. He missed the final five months of the 2015 season with a right rotator cuff injury.

Pirates: All-Star pitcher Gerrit Cole threw six innings and 97 pitches without incident in Florida on Friday. The team has not yet announced when Cole, who dealt with a rib issue during spring training, will make his first 2016 start. … Reliever Jared Hughes, on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left lat, ran the steps at PNC Park on Sunday but has not yet been cleared to throw.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Michael Wacha starts Tuesday vs. the Pirates. An All-Star last season while going 17-7 with a 3.38 ERA, Wacha is 6-2 with a 2.45 ERA in 10 April starts during his career. The 24-year-old went 2-1 with a 3.97 ERA in 2015 against Pittsburgh.

Pirates: Jon Niese, acquired in an offseason trade with the New York Mets in exchange for second baseman Neil Walker, will make his debut with Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Niese went 9-10 with a 4.13 ERA for the Mets in 2015.

— Associated Press —

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals employed the same formula they used to win 100 games last season — good starting pitching, enough timely hitting and Trevor Rosenthal closing out the game — to defeat the Miami Marlins 3-0 on Wednesday in both teams’ final game at the spring training complex they share.

Michael Wacha ended a tough spring with by far his best outing, tossing five shutout innings of two-hit ball.

“This was definitely a step in the right direction,” said Wacha, who went 17-7 with a 3.38 ERA last year. “I know how important it is to build off today, but everything felt in sync and ready to go.”

Rosenthal struck out two as part of a perfect ninth to record his first save of the spring.

Matt Holliday smacked a two-run double into the left-center field gap off Edwin Jackson with two outs in the fifth, giving St. Louis a 3-0 lead. Holiday has a single, double, home run and walk over his last five plate appearances.

The Cardinals opened the scoring in the fourth with Yadier Molina’s first RBI of the spring, a two-out single punched off the glove of diving Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon and into right field.

The run came off Marlins closer A.J. Ramos, who allowed two hits, walked two more batters and tossed a wild pitch before being lifted for reliever Cody Ege with two outs and the bases loaded.

“He was a little erratic with control, but for the most part the hits he gave up were something you can’t really control,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said.

WALDEN WORRIES

St. Louis reliever Jordan Walden didn’t pass his final test of the spring. After working a scoreless sixth inning, Walden returned to the dugout and informed manager Mike Matheny that the shoulder soreness that plagued him late in spring and forced him to miss most of last season was once again present. “Something didn’t feel right and we’re going to have to get him looked at again, so it doesn’t look like he’s going to be able to make our (opening day) roster,” Matheny said. A Walden absence opens a spot for Rule 5 selection Matt Bowman to start the season in the Cardinals’ bullpen.

DODGERS’ ROTATION SET

Mattingly announced that Adam Conley will start the third game of the season, Tom Koehler the fourth and Jarred Cosart the fifth.

STARTING TIME

Cardinals: Wacha entered the game having allowed eight earned runs in 12 2/3 innings. He was dialed in on Wednesday, throwing 35 of 55 pitches for strikes.

Marlins: Destined for Miami’s bullpen, David Phelps made the most of what could be his final start of the year, working three perfect innings while striking out six.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Catcher Brayan Pena dealt with some minor ailments during the spring, but is physically ready to begin the season. “Pena came in great today and could have started,” Matheny said.

Marlins: Aside from losing reliever Carter Capps to a season-ending elbow injury, Miami’s trainer’s room has been reasonably quiet.

“We’re, knock on wood, fairly healthy walking out of here so our injury report hasn’t been stacking up every day or anything like that — it’s been pretty minimal,” Mattingly said.

UP NEXT:

Cardinals: St. Louis heads to Tampa to play the New York Yankees on Thursday in the Cardinals’ final Grapefruit League game. Mike Leake gets the ball for the Cardinals against Michael Pineda.

Marlins: Miami is off on Thursday. Jose Fernandez will make his final spring start on Friday when the Marlins begin a two-game exhibition series at Marlins Park against the Yankees.

— Associated Press —

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Rain cut short Adam Wainwright’s and Stephen Strasburg’s final spring starts, canceling the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Washington Nationals in the top of the fourth inning Tuesday.

Wainwright allowed the lone run moments before lightning halted play. The Cardinals’ opening day starter wasn’t as crisp as he would have liked to be in his final spring start.

“I could have pitched seven or eight innings today and I would have thrown 115 pitches — it would have been kind of sloppy,” Wainwright said. “I want to tighten that up. I’m not worried about anything that’s going on, but I’m not overly excited about my start today. It could have been a lot better.”

Nationals manager Dusty Baker liked what he saw from Strasburg, who struck out five in three innings, including the side in the third.

Tuesday marked the second straight rainout for the Nationals, and the forecast for Wednesday’s Grapefruit League finale against the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie isn’t promising. Nor is the extended forecast for Friday’s and Saturday’s exhibition games against Minnesota in Washington.

Baker pushed Monday’s scheduled pitchers to Tuesday following that rainout. While Strasburg threw enough on Tuesday, there is now a backlog of relievers who need work in the coming days before the regular season begins.

“We’ll get our work done inside I guess,” Baker said. “We’ll adjust.”

EXTRA HELP

The Cardinals plan to break camp on Wednesday more than the 25-player maximum roster permitted for opening day. St. Louis plays the New York Yankees in Tampa on Thursday. Afterward, the major league-bound players will head to Pittsburgh, where the Cardinals open the season. The handful of players destined for the minor leagues will bus back from Tampa to the Cardinals’ spring training complex in Jupiter to join their new teams.

NOT TURNER’S TIME

Washington wants to see top prospect Trea Turner work on his footwork, arm strength and leadership skills while in the minors this season. “A shortstop’s got to have energy,” Baker said. “It gives everybody else energy.” The Nationals optioned Turner to Triple-A on Monday but had the Palm Beach County native hit lead-off as a minor league call-up on Tuesday. Turner entered Tuesday’s game hitting .250 with a home run and four RBI this spring.

STARTING TIME

Nationals: Strasburg helped himself with the bat on Tuesday, singling in the third inning off Wainwright.

Cardinals: St. Louis manager Mike Matheny announced that Michael Wacha will start the second game of the season and Mike Leake the third in Pittsburgh. The number of off days built into the Cardinals’ end of spring and early season schedule will lead St. Louis to leave a couple pitchers from the starting rotation behind when it breaks camp. Jaime Garcia will throw in a minor league spring training game on Friday and Carlos Martinez will do the same on Saturday before joining the club in Pittsburgh.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: C Yadier Molina was a late addition to the lineup on Tuesday. St. Louis scratched Molina from Monday’s game because of a bruised toe incurred in the weight room. … RHP Jordan Walden (sore shoulder) didn’t experience any ill effects following Monday’s scoreless inning. Walden hadn’t pitched since March 21. He is expected to pitch again on Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Nationals: Max Scherzer will start against Noah Syndergaard and the New York Mets at Port St. Lucie on Wednesday in Washington’s final Grapefruit League game.

Cardinals: St. Louis plays its final Grapefruit League game in Roger Dean Stadium on Wednesday. The Cardinals will be the visiting team when Wacha takes the mound against Miami’s David Phelps.

— Associated Press —

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Matt Holliday hit his first home run this spring, a long drive off Bartolo Colon that helped the St. Louis Cardinals beat the New York Mets 3-1 Monday.

Holliday’s shot hit the Marlins clubhouse beyond the left field wall. The Marlins and Cardinals share the complex.

Holliday later singled and scored in the fourth inning.

That was all the work the 12-year veteran needed for the day.

“Some of them need to go nine (innings) and some of them maybe not so much,” manager Mike Matheny said. “He puts together a homer and another laser — that’s a good day to just get out.”

Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez gave up one run and three hits in six innings. He walked none and struck out four.

Martinez finished his outing by throwing a fastball past Yoenis Cespedes.

“That’s a good fastball hitter,” Matheny said. “I thought it was just a great outing.”

Colon allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings.

Neil Walker doubled and scored the Mets’ run.

Playing his first Grapefruit League game since straining his knee on March 10, Mets shortstop as Asdrubal Cabrera went hitless in three at-bats.

St. Louis won for only the second time since March 12. The Mets’ loss broke a string of three consecutive ties, and left them winless in 11 games.

STARTING TIME

Mets: Colon threw 68 of his 92 pitches for strikes. Afterward, Colon said he could pitch out of the bullpen for New York’s first two games of the season in Kansas City.

Cardinals: Martinez will pitch in a minor league game for St. Louis on Saturday before rejoining the club for the season opener in Pittsburgh.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Catcher Yadier Molina was scratched from the starting lineup because of a bruised toe suffered in the weight room. Matheny said he is day to day. … Reliever Jordan Walden made his first appearance since March 21. The Mets loaded the bases against Walden on two hits and a hit batter but couldn’t push across a run. Walden hasn’t allowed a run in six Grapefruit League appearances, but his health remains a concern.

OQUENDO OVER?

St. Louis third base coach Jose Oquendo conceded that if his knee doesn’t heal properly during his upcoming medical leave of absence, he may be forced to retire.

“I don’t know yet,” he said. “I can’t tell what I’m going to do two to three months from now.”

Oquendo underwent two surgeries on his right knee during the past year, including one a couple weeks ago. He’s hoping the medical leave, which the Cardinals announced on Sunday and expect to last the entire season, will help him avoid having to undergo knee replacement surgery.

UP NEXT

Mets: New York and Sean Gilmartin host the Marlins.

Cardinals: Adam Wainwright starts against Stephen Strasburg and the Nationals.

— Associated Press —

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — J.T. Realmuto’s two-out, two-RBI bloop single in the sixth broke a 2-2 tie and propelled the Miami Marlins to a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.

Realmuto lofted what normally would have been a routine fly ball to right-center field, but Cardinals’ right fielder Stephen Piscotty had been positioned to guard the line moments earlier. The ball barely eluded diving center fielder Tommy Pham, allowing Giancarlo Stanton and Martin Prado to score.

The Marlins’ comeback overshadowed a strong start by Jaime Garcia. The Cardinals’ lefty didn’t allow a hit until the fifth inning, when Miami struck for two runs.

Realmuto played a role in that rally, too, recording the Marlins’ first hit, a single, then scoring one batter later on Adeiny Hechavarria’s double.

Marlins ace Jose Fernandez spent much of the afternoon working on off-speed pitches. One in particular didn’t work out: Pham smacked a 3-2 curveball over the left field wall, giving St. Louis a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Greg Garcia followed with a single that ended Fernandez’s afternoon. He allowed five hits and walked three while striking out six in 3 2/3 innings.

“I know he’s throwing a lot of change-ups,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “I don’t know if that’s necessarily what he wants to do all year long, but I know he’s working on it.”

Fernandez was fortunate to surrender only those two runs.

St. Louis strung together three hits in the second inning but failed to score because Jedd Gyorko passed Matt Adams between second and third base on Brayan Pena’s double to center field. Adams was making his way back to second to tag up, anticipating that Marcel Ozuna might catch Pena’s drive. But Gyorko, who had a better read on the ball, rounded second and didn’t see Adams until it was too late.

“When I saw the ball go down I assumed that Matt was running — and he was trying to tag up,” Gyorko said. “I’ve got to pay better attention to know what he’s doing instead of just watching the ball.”

The only blemishes on Garcia’s line through the first four innings were a pair of walks to Stanton. The Cardinals also intentionally walked the slugger in the sixth.

St. Louis has won only once in its last 13 games, dating back to March 12.

STARTING TIME

Cardinals: Sunday was the final spring start for Garcia, but he may remain in Jupiter when the Cardinals head north in order to throw against minor leaguers on Friday, which would be his next scheduled start.

Marlins: Fernandez’s start was his last before the Marlins shift from Jupiter to Miami. His next appearance will be in Friday’s exhibition against the New York Yankees in Marlins Park. “I think it’s going to be great — being at home warming up in the bullpen, everything works into it,” Fernandez said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Manager Mike Matheny said reliever Jordan Walden, who had been resting a sore shoulder, is expected to pitch on Monday. Walden has yet to allow a run this spring in five appearances, but he hasn’t pitched in a game since March 21.

UP NEXT:

Cardinals: Carlos Martinez will make his final spring start on Monday when Bartolo Colon and the New York Mets come to Jupiter.

Marlins: Miami will send Chris Narveson to Viera to face Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals.

— Associated Press —

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Mets starter Noah Syndergaard continued his outstanding spring, with six solid innings, and New York scored a run in the bottom of the ninth inning to salvage a 5-5 tie on Friday.

Jeurys Familia allowed four hits — including a home run to Randal Grichuk, walked two and retired only one batter as the Cardinals scored three in the top of the ninth.

Mets manager Terry Collins said the long 2015 season and playoffs may still be taking a toll on Familia, but the closer disagreed.

“My arm is 100 percent,” Familia said. “Today is one of those days, everyone can have that pitching. Tomorrow is a new day.

“I don’t have any excuse. I left my sinker over the plate, in the middle, too, and they made good swings.”

Syndergaard gave up two runs and five hits and struck out nine. Syndergaard has 19 strikeouts and only one walk in four starts this spring.

“I’m very pleased with how my spring training has been going,” Syndergaard said. “I had a pretty productive offseason and, like I’ve said before, I’ve kind of shocked myself a little bit with how good I’ve been feeling and how in sync my mechanics have been.”

Matt Adams was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI and Ruben Tejada, who was released by the Mets last week, had a pair of singles for the Cardinals.

St. Louis starter Michael Wacha allowed eight hits and two runs in 4 2/3 innings.

Wilmer Flores had two hits, including a double, and scored two runs and Neil Walker singled twice for the Mets.

STARTING TIME

Cardinals: Wacha has given up 23 hits in 12 2/3 innings this spring, but manager Mike Matheny didn’t seem too concerned.

“I think he’s been throwing the ball well,” Matheny said. “I like where he is. I think he’s had a couple outings where he’s been up a little more than what he’d like to be. I think it’s just a matter of getting his timing.”

Mets: Syndergaard said his slider Friday was the best it has been all spring.

“I felt like I could throw it any time, in any count and either get a swing and a miss out of it, out of the zone, or be able to mix one in for a first pitch strike and try to induce a ground ball,” Syndergaard said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets: First baseman Lucas Duda was given Friday off because of a stiff neck. … Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (knee) ran and took 11 at-bats on the minor league side. He is scheduled to hit in a minor league game Saturday and play in a Grapefruit League game Sunday. … Left fielder Michael Conforto (back) is scheduled to play Saturday, but Collins said it depends how Conforto feels in the morning.

GANGS ALL HERE

With the Cardinals having just two of their final seven Grapefruit League games away from Jupiter, Matheny opted to bring the entire squad on the trip to Port St. Lucie.

“It’s kind of the process of spring training,” he said. “Get toward the end, we’ll be down here another week, and it’s time we take everybody with us.”

ROSTER MOVES

The Mets released veteran reliever Buddy Carlyle on Friday and reassigned Roger Bernadina, Ty Kelly, Danny Muno, and T.J. Rivera to minor league camp.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Mike Leake will start against the Washington Nationals on Saturday in Jupiter. RHP Joe Ross is scheduled to start for the Nationals.

Mets: RHP Jacob deGrom starts for New York against RHP Bud Norris and the Atlanta Braves in Lake Buena Vista.

— Associated Press —

VIERA, Fla. (AP) — Max Scherzer outpitched Adam Wainwright in a matchup worthy of opening day, and the Washington Nationals defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 8-2 Thursday.

Scherzer struck out nine and walked three in five innings, allowing two unearned runs and three hits.

In typical Scherzer fashion, he was more concerned about the three walks, saying he was “inefficient” against the Cardinals lineup.

“When you’re walking three guys, that’s just inexcusable,” Scherzer said. “I think I fell behind quite a few guys as well. That’s just something I know I have control over. I’ve got to be better at pounding the zone and being in those 1-2 counts and not being in those 2-1 counts.

“It’s something that can be easily fixed. At the same time, you’ve got to like where all of my pitches are at, how everything’s moving. It’s something I can build off of.”

After the pitching matchup was announced Wednesday night, Scherzer and Wainwright exchanged a few friendly texts.

“Yeah, that happened,” Scherzer said. “We both realize we have two starts left . hey, let’s go at it. Bring your `A’ game type of stuff. That’s what makes it fun. He’s a competitor as well. That’s what you enjoy.”

Wainwright gave up four runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings, struck out four and walked one.

Michael A. Taylor hit a two-run double and a two-run homer for the Nationals. Anthony Rendon drove in two runs with his third double in two days.

Scherzer struck out eight different Cardinals.

Wainwright was relieved by Nick Maness, who gave up two doubles, Taylor’s homer and a single among his first four batters.

STARTING TIME

Cardinals: Despite being touched for four runs, Wainwright was pleased with his outing.

“I felt good out there,” he said. “I’ve still got to sharpen just a bit, but things are falling into place. Obviously, the results sometimes don’t show it, but I threw some nice pitches out there. That’s a tough lineup over there. It’s good to face a lineup like that. It gets you ready.”

Nationals: Washington manager Dusty Baker was happy with the way Scherzer was able to get through the day without being at his best.

“He was getting underneath his breaking ball a little bit. He wasn’t sharp, but he was sharp enough to get them out.”

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Michael Wacha makes his fourth spring training start as the Cardinals visit the New York Mets and Noah Syndergaard.

Nationals: Tanner Roark gets the start as the Nationals visit the Miami Marlins and David Phelps.

TAYLOR HAVING BIG SPRING

Taylor now leads the Nationals in home runs (four) and RBI (13) this spring while batting .486 (16 for 37), but is still slated to be the team’s fourth outfielder behind Ben Revere in center field.

“Both of them are having great springs. They do what they’re supposed to do. Ben’s supposed to get on base and score runs. Michael has the capability of doing everything,” he said. “But we can only play three at a time. There isn’t a quarterback controversy. It is what it is.”

T-SHIRT SLOGAN

Earlier this spring, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said Matt Holiday was a “viable option” at first base. Asked about the possibility of Kolten Wong batting leadoff this season, Matheny not only used the same phrase, he jokingly suggested a new line of clothing.

“Viable option,” Matheny said. “Let’s get a T-shirt made.”

— Associated Press —

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton’s first home run of the spring wasn’t enough to help Miami overcome a dazzling pitching performance by Carlos Martinez for the St. Louis Cardinals in a 4-1 win Wednesday.

An All-Star last season, Martinez threw five shutout innings, giving up two hits and striking out five.

“He was nasty,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “It was effortless velocity. Every pitch he had today looked sharp.”

Martinez was particularly pleased with his offspeed deliveries.

“I was able to use that changeup, especially behind in the count — 2-1, 2-0,” Martinez said via a translator. “I liked the fact that I threw it to right-handed hitters. That’s something I’ve been working on. It feels pretty good, so hopefully I can continue to do that.”

Stanton tied it at 1 in the seventh when he hit a 3-0 fastball from Trevor Rosenthal over the center field wall.

“It was good to get on top of a fastball. I’ve seemed to pop up the last couple,” Stanton said.

Brandon Moss doubled home two runs in the bottom half of the inning. The Cardinals had been 0-6-2 in their last eight games.

“We go out to win every time we go out to play the game,” Matheny said. “I didn’t know the exact number. It seemed like it’s been a long time since we’ve slapped high-fives after a game, so it was nice today.”

STARTING TIME

Marlins: Though he only allowed one run, Tom Koehler needed 91 pitches to get through five innings.

“The goal was to get that many (pitches), but not over the course of as few innings,” Koehler said. “I need to be a little more economical.”

Cardinals: Martinez helped himself in the field by making an athletic leaping play to snare a one-hopper hit by J.T. Realmuto, then tossing on to first to end the third inning.

“Believe it or not I’ve been working on that. I’ve been working not to fall down from the mound and trying to follow through because I want to be able to help myself with comebackers,” Martinez said. “Today it worked, so I’m doing a pretty good job with it.”

MATHENY RETURNS

Matheny returned to the dugout after spending a couple of days in West Virginia following the death of his grandmother.

BULLPEN BOUND?

Miami signed Edwin Jackson to compete for a role in its starting rotation but he could break camp as a member of the Marlins bullpen.

“We shortened him up yesterday knowing that that could be a possibility,” manager Don Mattingly said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: CF Marcel Ozuna was a late scratch. He injured his ankle on a slide during Tuesday’s game. Mattingly expects Ozuna to play on Thursday.

UP NEXT

Marlins: Miami will play its third consecutive game at Roger Dean Stadium when the Twins come to Jupiter. Adam Conley gets the ball for the Marlins against Tommy Milone.

Cardinals: St. Louis heads up to Viera, where ace Adam Wainwright starts against Washington.

— Associated Press —

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Miguel Cabrera hit his third homer of the spring and Mike Pelfrey pitched five scoreless innings for the second straight time to lead the Detroit Tigers past the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 on Thursday.

JaCoby Jones and Nate Schierholtz also homered for the Tigers.

Pelfrey struck out three and allowed three hits in his fourth start of the spring. He lowered his ERA to 1.17.

“I feel good,” said Pelfrey, who came to Detroit as a free agent after making 30 starts with Minnesota last season. “My goal was to come down here and build arm strength and endurance, but I am really not paying attention to the (shutout) streak. I just want to make the rotation.”

The Tigers are set at the top of the rotation with Justin Verlander, Anibal Sanchez and newcomer Jordan Zimmerman. The last two spots could go many ways, but Pelfrey and Daniel Norris are considered the leading candidates. Matt Boyd and Shane Greene, both established major league starters, are also in the mix.

Manager Brad Ausmus said he isn’t making any decisions yet with two weeks left in spring training.

Pelfrey was 6-11 with a 4.26 ERA last season with the Twins.

“I’m getting ahead of hitters,” he said. “I’m getting ground balls and it is letting me go deep into the game.”

Pelfrey wanted to go an extra inning and that was nixed, but he went out and threw 15 more pitches in the bullpen.

“This is a team with high expectations,” Pelfrey said of Detroit, which finished in the AL Central basement last season after four straight division titles. “We have big goals and I want to be a part of this rotation and what we want to do.”

STARTING TIME

Carlos Martinez started for the Cardinals and went 2 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs while walking one. His spring ERA is at 5.79. Martinez went 14-7 with a 3.01 ERA last year and Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said he isn’t worried.

“His change-up was good, his slider looked good, and when he can throw the change and the slider on a 3-2 count for strikes, he’s going to be tough to hit,” Matheny said. “His slider is only getting better.”

RUNNING REDBIRDS

The Cardinals lead the majors in stolen bases this spring with 25 in 32 attempts. Tommy Pham stole his fourth base of the season. Charlie Pilson leads the team with five.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright will start his third game of the spring on Friday against the Tigers in Jupiter.

Tigers: Matt Boyd will make his fourth start of the spring against the Cardinals. He is battling for the final spot in the crowded Tigers’ rotation.

— Associated Press —

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — Jaime Garcia cruised through three innings before allowing four runs on four hits and the St. Louis Cardinals blew a three-run lead before playing to an 8-all tie with the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday.

“Those were three really good innings and the fourth was spring training,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “Besides that, he looked great. Maybe he got a little fatigued in the fourth, but he didn’t say he did.”

Kolten Wong and Jedd Gyorko both drove in runs as the Cardinals took a quick 3-0 lead off Braves starter Jhoulys Chacin, who gave up three runs on eight hits in three innings.

“(I was) leaving too many pitches in the middle and trying to get my fastball away — I was missing the middle,” Chacin said. “Big league guys are going to put a good swing on it and get bases. I need to get better location with my four-seam fastball and that was what was missing today.”

Added Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, “Chacin has been pitching just as well as anyone up until today, but we’ll chalk this up to spring training and move on.”

Garcia allowed just a hit through his first three innings, but after a lead-off single by Ozzie Albies and walk to Jeff Francoeur, Hector Olivera and Gordon Beckham both drove in runs. Ryan Lavarnway hit a two-run double to give the Braves a 4-3 lead in the fourth.

The Braves had a four-run eighth behind a two-RBI double by Jace Peterson to regain the lead.

Carlos Peguero hit a pinch-hit solo homer in the ninth to tie the game.

CHIPPER IN CAMP

The Braves’ Hall of Fame, switch-hitting 3B Chipper Jones made his first appearance in camp Wednesday, donning a blue No. 10 jersey as part of the organization for the first time since he retired in 2012.

“Just to put the uniform back on feels good,” he said.

In December, the Braves announced Jones would join the team’s front office as a special assistant to baseball operations, which involves him assisting the team, as well as providing batting instruction, periodically throughout the year.

“It’s nice to be privy to information I wasn’t privy to when I was playing,” he said. “From listening to (former Braves manager) Bobby Cox and others talk, it’s really been a learning experience. It’s been a blast since I’ve been back.”

In a 19-year career with the Braves, Jones batted .303 with 468 home runs, 2,726 hits and 1,623 RBI en route to winning the 1999 NL MVP award and a World Series title in 1995. He has become part of a recent trend for the Braves’ front office, which has brought back players from the team’s formative years, when it won 14-straight division titles from 1991-2005.

In February, the Braves announced Jones’ teammate and former outfielder Andruw Jones would also become a special assistant to baseball operations.

“We had some great years together and we will forever be linked, not only from our playing time, but from our last name as well,” Chipper Jones said.

He plans to make an appearance at every homestand during the regular season and has been asked to work with some of the younger players, such as shortstop Dansby Swanson, the 2015 No. 1 overall pick, whom the Braves got in a December trade with Arizona.

“I just spoke with (Swanson) for 10-15 minutes,” Jones said. “I have not put eyes on him in the field, but he’s impressed in camp and everyone here really likes him.”

Jones said he’s still easing into his new role with the only major league team he’s ever known and is unsure if it will lead to a more managerial or coaching role.

“This is just me dipping my toe in the water to see if I like it,” he said. “Ideally, I’d like to climb the ladder without having the put the uniform on day in and day out, for right now. Things could change. I lived out of a suitcase for 23 years, and I like my life the way it is right now.”

MOLINA MOVING ALONG

Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina (thumb) batted ninth in the lineup and caught behind the plate but did not take full swing at a pitch. In two at-bats, Molina laid down a sac bunt and struck out looking.

“It’s part of the process and he’s just following as the medical team says,” Matheny said. “Every day he’s getting closer, and it’s some of the best I’ve seen him swing during BP.”

In the fourth, 2B Ozzie Albies stole second on Molina, with the catcher’s throw coming up short on a hop to SS Jedd Gyorko.

STARTING TIME

Braves: Chacin threw 53 pitches, 38 for strikes, in three innings pitched. He struck out two batters and issued a walk.

Cardinals: Garcia struck out six batters and allowed two walks over four innings. He batted eighth in the lineup in a move Matheny used to protect Molina, who has yet to take a full swing at a live pitch. Garcia grounded into a fielder’s choice and struck out looking in two at bats.

UP NEXT

Braves: RHP Williams Perez will face Houston in a split-squad match at home, while Mike Foltynewicz will take the mound against Washington in Viera in the other split-squad game Thursday.

Cardinals: RHP Carlos Martinez is scheduled to start in Lakeland against Detroit. The Tigers have Mike Pelfrey scheduled to take the mound.

— Associated Press —