Arenado, Nootbaar lead the pack as Cardinals open spring games

JUPITER, Fla. – Nolan Arenado and Lars Nootbaar packed a punch with multi-hit games as the St. Louis Cardinals opened their spring schedule Saturday with split-squad action.

Arenado and Nootbaar, who spent much of the offseason working together, ended up at different venues for Saturday’s games, but both went 2-for-2 with a combined three runs batted in.

The Cardinals hosted the Miami Marlins in Jupiter for one of the games, losing 9-8. The Cardinals also visited the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie for the other Saturday game, winning 10-5.

St. Louis used a combined 36 position players and 14 pitchers between the two games, giving both big-league players and prospects extended looks.

Key performers

• As previously mentioned, Arenado and Nootbaar both delivered 2-for-2 games with two singles each. Arenado played in Jupiter and Nootbaar played in Port St. Lucie.

• Nolan Gorman hit between Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt in the Marlins game, picking up a double and a walk while working at second base.

• Outfield prospect Matt Koperniak also had an impressive day, collecting three hits behind two singles and a double. He also drove in three against the Marlins.

• Zack Thompson, auditioning for a possible bullpen or swing-starter role, tossed two scoreless innings and only allowed one hit against the Mets.

• Prospects Thomas Saggese and Luken Baker both drove in two against the Mets on one hit apiece.

The Cardinals reconvene Sunday as a whole unit for a matchup against the Houston Astros in Port St. Lucie. The Cardinals only have one other split-squad day on their spring schedule. That’s set for March 19, and that split-squad occasion offers the same game arrangements as Saturday.

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