Cardinals' Garcia, Rosenthal impress in exhibition loss

~ Garcia threw five shutout innings in his longest outing of the spring

JUPITER, Fla. -- Newcomer Shaun Marcum is making a nice impression with the New York Mets.

Making his third of the spring, Marcum allowed only one hit and didn't walk anyone in 3 2/3 innings Sunday as the Mets beat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-0.

Marcum and six relievers combined to give up just three hits.

Shane Robinson appeared to be fooled by an offering from Marcum in the second inning but still managed to stroke the lone hit off him, keeping the ball inside the left-field line.

New York Mets' Justin Turner, right, is out at second as St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Matt Carpenter turns the double play during the fourth inning of an exhibition spring training baseball game on Sunday, March 10, 2013, in Jupiter, Fla. The Mets won 3-0. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

"As far as mechanics and everything, which has been my main focus the last couple bullpens and today's start, everything felt a lot better," Marcum said.

St. Louis starter Jamie Garcia was equally baffling to New York hitters. The left-hander threw five shutout innings, surrendering four hits and a walk.

"I thought he threw the ball very well," St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. "You could tell the ball was running all over the place. He had a real smooth, fluid action to him. I was happy to see the way the ball was coming out of his hand."

Marcum and Garcia impressed, but it was Trevor Rosenthal who put on the biggest show for the fans.

Rosenthal struck out the side in the seventh inning. It was his first game appearance since learning he was no longer part of the competition to become St. Louis' fifth starter, and that he would be concentrating on coming out of the bullpen.

Rosenthal generated a noticeable buzz from the crowd when four pitches reached 100 mph on the stadium radar gun.

"I wasn't trying to do anything too much extra right now -- just the same approach, trying to attack every hitter," Rosenthal said.

The performance reminded Matheny of the job Rosenthal did during the Cardinals' playoff run last fall.

"He's an absolute weapon to be used out of the 'pen," Matheny said.

The Mets scored in the eighth when Travis d'Arnaud drew a walk from Edward Mujica, moved up on a wild pitch and later came home on Jordany Valdespin's single.

Jamie Hoffman hit a two-run double in the ninth.

Noteworthy

* Matheny said David Freese should be able to play the field today, a week after injuring his tailbone while falling into the stands trying to catch a foul ball.