Mar 5, 2014; Jupiter, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) is congratulated by Red Sox third base coach Brian Butterfield (13) after hitting a home run against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Red Sox 8-6. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
The St Louis Cardinals came out on top in the two teams’ first meeting since the conclusion of the 2013 World Series. St Louis rode a home run from Xavier Scruggs and RBIs from four major league starters to their 8-6 win.
Daniel Nava opened scoring, putting Boston in the lead right out of the gate, with a home run off of Cardinals starter Shelby Miller. Scruggs wasted no time retaliating, launching a Chris Capuano offering out of the park to put the Cardinals ahead in the second. Capuano’s Red Sox début finished after two innings, two runs and 37 pitches.
Anthony Ranaudo though, didn’t fare too well against the strong Cardinals offense, allowing five runs in only 1.1 innings pitched. Matt Adams struck first, lacing a two-run single off of Ranaudo in the third. The shaky appearance continued for Ranaudo as the trio of Jhonny Peralta, Matt Holiday, and Allen Craig all managed RBI hits in the fourth to bring in three more runs. Dalier Hinojosa relieved Ranaudo and pitched 2.1 innings allowing only one unearned run on 45 pitches.
After being baffled by Randy Choate and Pat Neshek, Boston caught a break when St Louis brought in reliever Angel Castro. Xander Bogaerts greeted Castro with a massive two-run home run and Mike Carp had a triple to pull Boston within three. Heiker Meneses managed a two-run double in ninth, but was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a triple to end the game.
Noe Ramirez and Tommy Layne also appeared in-game for Boston, combining for one walk, two strikeouts and no runs across 2.1 innings pitched. Lastly, Jon Lester, whose day it had been to pitch, threw a minor league game instead of making the cross-state trip to Roger Dean Stadium.