JUPITER, Fla. — Following a couple delays, one due to discomfort and another “precautionary” due to illness, Cardinals right-hander Jack Flaherty made his first Grapefruit League start of spring training and stifled the Houston Astros in a 7-1 win at Roger Dean Stadium on Monday afternoon.
Flaherty pitched three innings, allowed one run on one hit (a home run) and one walk. He also struck out five and showed a fastball that reached 95 miles per hour.
Left-hander Steven Matz followed with an impressive outing of his own that included three scoreless, no-hit innings with four strikeouts in his first Grapefruit League appearance this spring.