The Cardinals topped the Mets 7-4 in their first win of the spring in a matchup on Monday afternoon, fueled by clutch hitting and solid bullpen work from the birds.
Key Moments:
2nd Inning: Luken Baker crushed a three-run homer off Blade Tidwell to give the Cardinals an early 3-0 lead.
3rd Inning: Pete Alonso responded with a two-run double, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
4th Inning: José Azocar tied the game with a solo homer off Gordon Graceffo.
6th Inning: Jordan Walker’s RBI double and Baker's sac fly put St. Louis back up 5-3.
7th Inning: Hayden Senger’s solo homer brought the Mets within one, but José Barrero answered with a solo shot of his own.
8th Inning: César Prieto scored on a wild pitch, sealing the win for the Cardinals.
Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Feb 24, 2025; Jupiter, Florida, USA; St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Luken Baker (26) hits a three-run home run against the New York Mets during the second inning at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.
Takeaways:
Baker's Bat: Luken Baker stood out with a homer, four RBIs, and a sac fly, making a solid name for himself on offense. After a powerful performance in Triple-A last season (30+ HR, .880 OPS), his outing this spring could solidify his role as a backup first baseman or DH.
Walker’s Impact: Jordan Walker had two hits, including an RBI double, and scoring a run. Entering his second season after struggling last year, Walker is looking for his breakout season as the Cardinals potential everyday outfielder.
Bullpen Success: Kyle Leahy earned the win, while Ramón Muñoz closed it out with a clean ninth.
Mets Power: Azocar and Senger provided pop, but the Mets' pitching struggled to contain St. Louis' lineup.
Betting Recap:
- Cardinals ML at -130 hit
- The total score went over the 8.5 line
St. Louis’ offense capitalized on timely hitting, while their bullpen held firm to secure the victory. With the Cardinals still sorting out bench depth and roles within the team this spring, it is good to see the younger guys putting up hungry performances this offseason.