JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Pitching took center stage Monday as St. Louis’ Mike Leake threw six strikeouts while Tommy Milone bolstered his bid to break camp as a member of Minnesota’s rotation in the Twins’ 5-3 victory.

Making his second start of the spring, Leake, a free-agent signing in the offseason, allowed only one hit in four shutout innings. The right-hander threw 38 of 54 pitches for strikes.

“That’s all deception,” St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. “That’s all the ability to go ahead and start the ball off the plate and bring it on, or start the ball on the plate and run it off. I mean, that’s just being a little different. He’s got good, live stuff.”

Leake’s Twins counterpart, Tommy Milone, matched the four shutout innings and retired the first 11 batters before Matt Holliday smacked a two-out double in the fourth.

“It would have been nice to get out of there clean, but just hung a change-up there and I guess he was waiting for it,” Milone said.

Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, recovering from two offseason thumb surgeries, made his third Grapefruit League start, but again didn’t swing the bat because he has yet to be cleared to hit in games.

Minnesota took the lead for good on Max Kepler’s two-out RBI single to center in the top of the seventh, breaking a 2-2 tie.

The Twins touched up Leake’s replacement, Seth Maness, for two runs in the fifth. Eduardo Escobar scored the second of those when Jorge Polanco’s hot shot to first took a bad hop, forcing first baseman Matt Holliday to knock the ball down before it hit him in the head.

A left fielder for 12 years, Holliday has spent the first month of spring training adding first base to his resume.

“He wasn’t even going to look in at me,” Matheny said of Holliday’s reaction to the smash. “I appreciate that.”

Holliday helped the Cardinals get that run back when his bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the sixth drove in Jacob Wilson, tying the game at 2.

TRAINER’S ROOM

St. Louis: Right fielder Stephen Piscotty returned to the lineup Monday, two days after being hit in the elbow with a pitch. Piscotty wore a protective pad for the first time in his career. “It’s a little sore — mostly just to the touch,” Piscotty said. “The ranges of motion are good. … If I don’t get hit there again, I should be feeling fine.”

Minnesota: The Twins’ reasons for keeping outfielder Danny Santana from making the trip were mostly precautionary. “He’s had a decent camp to this point, unfortunately he had a little inflammation in that left wrist,” Twins general manager Terry Ryan said. “We backed him off but I don’t think he’s going to be long term.” He’s expected to return the field on Wednesday.

UP NEXT

St. Louis: After an off day Tuesday, the Cardinals will play Atlanta in Orlando and send Jamie Garcia to the mound for his third start of the spring. It’ll also be the first game in which the Cardinals’ pitchers hit for themselves, as St. Louis employed a designated hitter for the first 13 games.

Minnesota: The Twins will host Boston on Wednesday after a day off Tuesday. Kyle Gibson will make his second start of the season.

— Associated Press —

VIERA, Fla. (AP) — Max Scherzer turned in another solid outing and Ryan Zimmerman hit an RBI single in his spring debut as the Washington Nationals and the St. Louis Cardinals played to a 4-4 tie in nine innings Sunday.

Zimmerman, bothered by plantar fasciitis in his left foot since early last season, singled during a three-run first inning off Michael Wacha. Zimmerman went 1 for 3 as the designated hitter.

Scherzer allowed one run and two hits over four innings. He walked one and hit two batters, but also struck out five in his third spring start. Manager Dusty Baker has strongly indicated Scherzer will start on opening day April 4 in Atlanta.

“It was a good outing,” Scherzer said. “I attacked the zone, (got) a lot of first-pitch strikes. That was something I wanted to do today and I was able to accomplish. I just had more well-executed pitches.

“I’m slowly getting more on line of how I want to execute all my off-speed, whether it’s in the zone or out of the zone, and that’s what’s important,” he said.

Even with Zimmerman as the DH, the Nationals’ lineup was a potential preview of what it could look like in the opener. Washington started off with four straight hits, including Bryce Harper’s RBI double.

“We have a chance to have a good offense and really score some runs,” Scherzer said. “It’s going to be exciting to see those guys produce runs, because I love run support.”

STARTING TIME

Cardinals: Wacha gave up three runs and six hits in two innings. He also had a walk, a balk and a wild pitch.

One of the hits, by Anthony Rendon, knocked off Wacha’s glove.

“The offspeed pitches, I really couldn’t throw them for strikes whenever I needed to,” he said. “It doesn’t really help you out when all you’ve got is a fastball-changeup. You can just look for those two pitches, (and) especially when they’re not located well, they can get hit.”

Nationals: Baker, in his first year managing the Nationals, found out something about Scherzer on Sunday — don’t try to high five him coming into the dugout.

“He just looks right through you, with one of those eyes he got,” Baker said. “Somebody told me, `Hey, man, he don’t do that. He don’t give five when he comes in.’ That’s what you call learning about your players.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: CF Tommy Pham cut his lip on a headfirst slide while stealing second. His helmet slid down and got him in the sixth inning. He left the game, but manager Mike Matheny said Pham was leaving at the end of the inning anyway. … OF Stephen Piscotty had been scheduled to make the trip to Viera, but was held back after being hit above the left elbow in a game against the Mets on Saturday. The injury is not considered serious.

“I’m sure if this was April, he would have been playing today,” Matheny said.

Nationals: CF Ben Revere was hit in the left shoulder while swinging at a third strike from St. Louis reliever Marco Gonzales. Revere remained on the ground for a few moments, but after being checked out by a team trainer, he remained in the game. Baker said Revere is expected to be in the lineup Monday.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Mike Leake gets the start as the Cardinals host the Minnesota Twins and Tommy Milone.

Nationals: Joe Ross will make his third spring start when Washington hosts Houston.

— Associated Press —

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Noah Syndergaard allowed one hit in three scoreless innings in his spring training debut, helping the New York Mets beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-2 Thursday.

Syndergaard, who finished fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting last year, retired his first eight batters. He struck out two and walked none.

“I felt great out there,” Syndergaard said. “It was nice getting out there, getting my feet wet. A little amped up. It’s been a long wait to get on the mound and be able to get out there and compete, but overall it was a pretty solid performance.”Ruben Tejada hit a two-run homer for the Mets after replacing Asdrubal Cabrera, who left in the first inning with a knee injury.

Matt Adams homered twice for the Cardinals, including a two-run drive. Stephen Piscotty had a hit, walked and stole a base.

Wilmer Flores added two hits for the Mets and Alejandro De Aza had two hits, including a double, and scored twice.

Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia allowed three hits in 3 2/3 shutout innings, struck out two and walked one.

STARTING TIME

Cardinals: Cardinals catcher Brayan Pena said Garcia’s pitches had a lot of movement Thursday.

“Using the sinker today, it was pretty good. Everybody knows that’s his bread and butter. It was fun to be behind home plate with him today. I think the changeup was our key factor today. It really gets the hitters off balance and then we went back there attacking with the two-seam and then finishing with a slider or a curveball.”

Mets: Sydergaard threw 29 of 38 pitches for strikes.

“The command — so many strikes,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “That was what I think was really most impressive. He’s a sensational strike thrower and he throws that hard. … It was a good outing for him.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets: Cabrera was scheduled to have an MRI on his left knee Thursday night. He was injured when he tagged up from first base on a long fly ball by Yoenis Cespedes. The throw from Cardinals center fielder Tommy Pham was offline so Cabrera opted not to slide at the last second.

“I was thinking to slide, I saw the bad throw so I tried to stand up and I felt something in my knee,” Cabrera said. “It’s sore right now. I don’t think it’s serious.”

Cardinals: Catcher Yadier Molina (thumb) checked out fine a day after making his spring training debut with three innings and a nice sweeping tag, and could catch Carlos Martinez on Friday. Prospect Patrick Wisdom, who homered Wednesday, has a minor hamstring injury. GM John Mozeliak says Wisdom likely will be out a week.

STILL GOT IT

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, a former catcher, made a nice play on a foul ball by Pena. Standing on the top step of the Cardinals dugout, Matheny caught the hard chopper with his right hand, looked at the ball and then flipped it to some Cardinals fans in the first row behind the dugout.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Martinez makes his first spring training start on Friday against the Braves. It’s his first outing since getting shut down late last season with shoulder tightness. Set-up men Seung Hwan Oh and Seth Maness are also scheduled to pitch.

Mets: Steven Matz, who made his spring training debut Monday, is scheduled to start against Washington. Collins was unsure how many innings Matz would throw on short rest.

— Associated Press —

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Reigning NL batting champion Dee Gordon singled for his first hit of spring training after an 0-for-10 start and the Miami Marlins beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-3 on Wednesday.

Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina made a sweeping tag play at the plate to save a run in his first appearance of the year. He didn’t bat, protecting his surgically repaired left thumb for another week or so. He caught three innings wearing a splint that manager Mike Matheny recommended be worn throughout the year.

“It was about exactly what we needed,” Matheny said. “It was great.”

Molina was pleased passing the first test.

“Everything is good, everything is progressing,” the catcher said. “Hopefully before opening day I’ll be 100 percent, but you never know.”

Gordon, who batted .333 last year, got his hit off Marco Gonzales and scored in the third.

Mike Leake, who signed an $80 million, five-year deal in the offseason, worked two scoreless innings in his first spring start for St. Louis. Adam Conley allowed one hit in 2 2/3 innings in his second start for Miami.

Justin Bour had two hits and two RBI for Miami. Patrick Wisdom had a two-run homer for St. Louis.

STARTING TIME

Marlins: Conley was 4-1 in 15 games last year as a rookie and is contending for a spot in the rotation.

“It’s not a sure thing I’m going to get a job,” Conley said. “So I’m trying to develop my stuff for the long haul, for when I’m pitching in September and hopefully the playoffs, but at the same I’m trying to show them the best version of myself.”

Cardinals: Leake threw 25 pitches. He overcame second baseman Kolten Wong’s fielding error to start the second, also benefiting from center fielder Randal Grichuk’s strong throw to the plate to catch Bour. He said he let Molina dictate the calls.

“For me it’s more getting used to the ups and downs and kind of dusting the cobwebs off,” Leake said. “Probably next one I’ll incorporate a few more certain pitches I like to throw.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: RF Giancarlo Stanton missed his fourth game in a row because of a sore right knee but worked out and said it felt better. Closer A.J. Ramos (calf), who has yet to appear in a game, threw live batting practice.

Cardinals: The team had no update on shortstop Jhonny Peralta, sent back to St. Louis for a second opinion after injuring his left thumb making a diving play. Molina won’t make the trip to Port St. Lucie to face the Mets on Thursday.

UP NEXT

Marlins: RHP Jose Urena is scheduled to start Thursday against Atlanta.

Cardinals: Lefty Jaime Garcia makes his second spring start Thursday at Port St. Lucie against the Mets, facing Noah Syndergaard.

SHAKY DEFENSE

Marlins third baseman Derek Dietrich, who has struggled defensively throughout his career, failed to make a play charging consecutive grounders in the fourth. One was ruled an error, the other a hit.

“Those were some tough plays,” manager Don Mattingly said. “You’ve got to make that play on the run.”

NICE STICK

Bour’s RBI single against Marco Gonzales was noteworthy because he had only 15 hits off lefties as a rookie last year while hitting 23 homers. The Marlins want him to be their everyday first baseman.

FIRST BASE SAGA

Matheny said it’s “not a priority” for Stephen Piscotty to get work at first base. The team wants him to concentrate on the outfield and already has Brandon Moss, Matt Adams and now Matt Holliday at the position.

— Associated Press —

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Kolten Wong got a chance to bat leadoff for the St. Louis Cardinals and was hitless in two at-bats Sunday during a 5-2 loss to the Washington Nationals.

Wong vocalized his desire to hit in the top spot during the offseason. He got his first opportunity of the spring and lined out and grounded out.

“I’ve asked for things and they don’t need to answer anything I’ve asked for, but they’ve definitely given me shots,” Wong said. “That’s all you can ask for, them understanding that you have a passion to try something out and them actually giving you the chance to do it.”

With Wong occupying the leadoff spot and outfielder Matt Holliday sitting out another day after a stiff lower back, manager Mike Matheny moved Matt Carpenter from first to third in the lineup.

Wong saw six pitches in his first at-bat. He’s hoping more patience at the plate will lead to more consistency.

“I think that’s the reason why I’ve been the player that I have is I feel like I’m a little too aggressive at some points,” said Wong, who signed a $25.5 million, five-year contract last week. “I think, for me, this spring training is going to be a lot of making sure I swing at strikes and just trying to see how far I can get into counts.”

Said Matheny: “When a guy makes an effort to try to do something we give him a shot.”

“It’s a great opportunity to throw him out there and see what it looks like. It’s the only way we will find out,” he said.

Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal gave the team a bit of a scare when he was hit in the calf by a comebacker during the third inning. He remained in the game.

The Nationals loaded the bases with no outs in the inning, ultimately scoring two runs before Rosenthal struck out the final two batters.

Washington scored twice in the second off Cardinals starter Deck McGuire on an RBI single by Michael A. Taylor and groundout from Trea Turner.

Brandon Moss doubled and drove in a run for St. Louis.

STARTING TIME

Nationals: RHP Blake Treinen pitched two scoreless innings, giving up one hit and striking out one.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Matheny said catcher Yadier Molina could be used as a defensive replacement in games as early as this week. Recovering from offseason thumb surgery, Molina could start swinging a bat soon, but he won’t be asked to hit in a game, yet.

CALL THE PLUMMER

St. Louis called up 2015 first-round draft choice Nick Plummer from its minor league pre-camp workout program and gave him the start in right field. Plummer hit .228 with eight stolen bases in 51 games at the rookie level Gulf Coast League last season. Hitting eighth on Sunday, Plummer went 0 for 1 with an RBI.

UP NEXT

Nationals: Tanner Roark is set to start Monday when Washington hosts the Marlins.

Cardinals: Ace Adam Wainwright is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut Monday, facing the New York Mets. That’ll put him on pace to start the season opener on April 3.

— Associated Press —