JUPITER, Fla. — Result: Mets 9, Cardinals 3
Even before Brandon Crawford played his first game for the Cardinals on Saturday, manager Oli Marmol was more than pleased with the addition of the veteran to the team.
“More than just his clubhouse presence, he is going to help us win games,” Marmol said.
Crawford went hitless in his two at-bats in his spring debut in what turned out to be a 9-3 loss to the Mets, but just putting on a Cardinals uniform and getting into a game was an important step for Crawford, who got a late start to the spring after signing as a free agent.
“One of the nice things about spring training is you feel good about yourself just for hitting a ball hard,” Crawford said. “Obviously a little bit different actually putting the whole uniform on and getting out there and playing. It felt good.”
Off the field, Crawford said he is enjoying his move to the Cardinals after spending his entire 13-year career with the Giants.
“I’m happy with how everything worked out,” he said. “I’d say even better than expected. Some of our team meetings have been great, some of the stuff guys have been saying. Masyn (Winn) has been great, talking with him about different things.
“I think back as the veteran guy now to all of the guys when I was coming up, what I liked and didn’t like, try to help build off that.”
Marmol thought it was a good move when the Cardinals signed Crawford and he feels even better about the signing now.
“Absolutely love having him on this club,” Marmol said. “It’s the right guy. We 100 percent got the right guy for the job. This guy knows exactly who he is, on and off the field.
“He knows what having success looks like. He knows what failing looks like. He’s a champion and he carries himself like one and it’s a great model for some of our young guys, the way he goes about his work, how detailed he is about his work, it’s the right guy.”
Here is how Saturday’s game broke down:
High: Thomas Saggese and Pedro Pages each hit their first home runs of the spring.
Low: Steven Matz allowed three runs in the first inning and another run in his second inning.
At the plate: The Cardinals were shut out and had just three hits before the ninth inning, when Saggese led off with a homer and Pages followed a single by Jose Fermin with a two-run homer … The projected starters in the lineup were a combined 1-of-12 with the only hit a single by Dylan Carlson … Paul Goldschmidt walked twice in his three plate appearances.
On the mound: Matz allowed a home run, two doubles and a single among the first six hitters he faced, then hit a batter, threw a wild pitch and gave up a sacrifice fly in the second inning … Riley O’Brien had to pitch out of a jam for the first time, allowing a line drive single off his glove and a walk, before he extended his streak of scoreless innings to five … Sem Robberse allowed four runs, retiring just two of the seven hitters he faced.
Worth noting: Marmol said the Cardinals are trying to figure out a plan for Tommy Edman who is still experiencing inflammation in his right wrist. Edman said the wrist feels worse when he takes an aggressive swing, and Marmol said Edman has been shut down from swinging “until we figure out what’s next.”
Up next: Drew Rom will get the start on Sunday when the Cardinals play the Marlins in Jupiter.
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