JUPITER, Fla. • Miles Mikolas, a Jupiter, Fla., native signed for $15.5 million for two years after pitching three seasons in Japan, had a rough Cardinals debut Sunday, giving up six runs and seven hits in 1 2/3 innings in a 7-3 loss to Houston.
Daniel Poncedeleon, pitching in a game for the first time since suffering a serious head line drive when hit by a line drive last May 9 while playing for Memphis, worked two innings, allowing one run.
And former Cardinals closer Jason Motte pitched one inning in his non-roster return to the team, working around two hits and a walk when he thought the hitter had been struck out, and a dropped pop foul by first baseman Patrick Wisdom.