The Miami Marlins played the St. Louis Cardinals to a 2-2 draw at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Sunday in spring training action. Griffin Conine led the offensive effort with a 1-for-2 with a home run and an RBI day, but neither club could land the decisive blow. On the mound, Braxton Garrett turned in a solid outing, working 3.0 innings of 1-run ball with two strikeouts. The Cardinals out-hit the Marlins 5-3 on the day. The draw is part of the exhibition experience, and the coaching staff will evaluate the individual performances as they continue assembling the Opening Day roster.
Key Performers
Griffin Conine was the key contributor at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a home run and an RBI. His power was on full display throughout the game. The Marlins will be hoping for more of the same as the spring continues.
Graham Pauley chipped in, going 2-for-3 with a triple. The Marlins showed flashes of offense but could not piece together the big inning they needed.
On the other side of the diamond, Pedro Pagés led the Cardinals offense with a 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI day. Anyelo Encarnación also contributed, going 1-for-1. Yohel Pozo added a 1-for-3 effort as well. The Cardinals offense proved to be too much for the Marlins pitching staff to contain on this particular day.
On the Mound
Braxton Garrett got the start, battling through his outing, working 3.0 innings while allowing 1 earned run on 1 hit with two strikeouts. He threw 37 pitches in the outing. The coaching staff will review his performance as they continue mapping out the pitching plan for the regular season.
The bullpen combined for 6.0 innings of work, allowing 1 earned run while striking out four. The Marlins continue to sort through their relief options as they build their Opening Day bullpen. Every inning pitched in the spring is an opportunity for pitchers to make their case for a spot on the roster when the games start counting.
Among the relievers, Ryan Gusto stood out with 3.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out two. It was an impressive showing that could factor into roster decisions.
How It Happened
Cardinals got on the board first with a run in the first inning. The Marlins answered with a run in the third. Cardinals responded with a run in the seventh. The Marlins countered with a run in the seventh. Cardinals out-hit the Marlins 5-3, with 1 error committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 5,923 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
The Marlins will move on from the draw as spring training continues. Exhibition games can end in ties under spring training rules, and the coaching staff will focus on the individual performances rather than the outcome as they finalize their roster ahead of Opening Day. Every at-bat and every inning on the mound is valuable preparation for the regular season ahead.
