With the Cardinals’ regular catcher for the past 17 seasons absent for personal reasons, Knizner assumed the role of Adam Wainwright’s battery mate on Friday. Not only did Knizner handle an efficient Wainwright outing for two innings, he hammered a long, two-run homer in the fourth as the Cardinals downed the Houston Astros 4-2 in the exhibition baseball opener for both teams at Roger Dean Stadium.
Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado saved a hit with a sprawling stop and then strong throw from his knees in the first inning. Arenado then smacked a two-run single in the third after none of the first 12 Cardinals hitters had got the ball out of the infield against the Astros as four had walked and three had struck out.