clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Spring Training 2013: Washington Nationals vs St. Louis Cardinals - Grapefruit League GameThread

The Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals meet this afternoon for the first time since the Cards knocked the Nats out of the 2012 postseason with their shocking, come-from-behind win in Game 5 of the NLDS. The same starters from that game are back on the hill today in Grapefruit League action.

By Patrick Reddington
USA TODAY Sports

The starters from Game 5 of last October's NLDS are back on the mound this afternoon in Grapefruit League action between the Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals. Nats' lefty Gio Gonzalez and Cards' right-hander Adam Wainwright take the hill just after 1:00 pm EST in Jupiter, Florida's Roger Dean Stadium, which is named after Roger Houston Dean, a Florida-based WWII naval officer and car salesman. Gonzalez is making his second start of the Spring after a 2.0 inning outing against the New York Mets last week. Gonzalez walked one and K'd three, throwing 35 pitches, 19 of them strikes in his first Spring Training start, but this afternoon he faces the Cardinals team that collected six hits, 11 walks and five earned runs in 10.0 innings of last year's postseason matchup. Of course this afternoon's game is just a Grapefruit League game with none of the drama of last October's series.

The Nationals have a ST road trip lineup behind Gonzalez this afternoon, with a mix of starters and prospects, but Gonzalez has Kurt Suzuki catching him and a few regulars including Danny Espinosa, Ian Desmond, Steve Lombardozzi and Tyler Moore with him as the Nats take on the Cards for the first time this Spring. The Nats' lefty will see a lot of familiar faces in the Cardinals' lineup. Drew Storen is also one of the names listed on lineup card posted by the Nationals on Twitter @NationalsPR this morning. The 25-year-old reliever will be seeing the Cards for the first time since Game 5's 9th inning meltdown. Also listed among the pitchers available for this afternoon's affair: Bill Bray, Nathan Karns and Erik Davis.

Plenty of reasons to watch, or listen in this case, since today's game is only available via MLB.com's Gameday Audio. And it's the Cards' feed, so steel yourself for the St. Louis' perspective on how the 2012 campaign ended for the defending NL East Champions. Here are the starting lineups for both teams via @NationalsPR:

Game Time 1:05 pm EST from Jupiter, Florida's Roger Dean Stadium. Again, this one's only available via MLB.com's Gameday Audio. I repeat, only available via MLB.com's Gameday Audio...

More From Federal Baseball