Cardinals fall to 0-2 in exhibition play with loss to Red Sox

JUPITER, Fla. -- Jon Lester pitched two scoreless, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.

Shortstop Rafael Furcal served as the Cardinals' designated hitter in his first game experience of the spring, and he led off the bottom of the first by lining out to first. He'd later ground out to short.

The 35-year-old is recovering from a strained ligament in his throwing elbow that cut his season short last year. He recently received a cortisone shot in that elbow to help with a painful bone spur.

After the game he said the elbow, "feels good -- a little heavy right now."

Furcal expects it to be at least a few more days before he is able to play the field.

Noteworthy

* Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright will get his first start of the spring today against Houston. Jaime Garcia draws the start on Tuesday at Boston, with Lance Lynn going on Wednesday at the New York Mets.

* Sunday was originally slated to be Shelby Miller's first start of the spring, but shoulder soreness earlier in the week changed those plans. Miller will throw batting practice today and should make his first start of the spring later in the week.