Cardinals' Lyons looks sharp in spring training debut against Marlins

JUPITER, Fla. -- Tyler Lyons was back on the mound Thursday for the St. Louis Cardinals, the stakes slightly smaller than the last time he pitched.

Even so, he wanted to throw well -- and did.

Lyons allowed one run in three innings to help the Cardinals win their spring training opener against the Miami Marlins 4-3.

Last year Lyons made eight starts, and he threw seven scoreless innings when the Cardinals beat Pittsburgh to clinch the NL Central in the final week of the season.

"Any time you have success like that on a big stage, it tells you you can do it," Lyons said. "That was a good one to go into the offseason and have that to remember. Hopefully that's something I can build off."

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny remembered Lyons' last start as one of the best all season for St. Louis.

"He's a talented kid," Matheny said. "It's just a matter of him putting it together. ... He had a great tempo today. We've been working on him being quicker to the plate, and he has made a great adjustment. And his stuff was real good."

Lyons gave up a homer and double to Marcell Ozuna but allowed only one other base runner. He threw 41 pitches.

The left-hander is expected to be in the bullpen this season but might also be a spot starter, Matheny said. Lyons has a 4.27 ERA in 40 appearances over the past three seasons.

Brandon Moss and Carlos Peguero hit back-to-back doubles for St. Louis in the second off Tom Koehler. Miami's Adeiny Hechavarria went 2 for 2.

Koehler, expected to be Miami's No. 3 starter, threw 41 pitches over 1 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs, two earned.

Even by first-game standards, it was a shaky outing, Marlins manager Don Mattingly said.

"You don't want it to look like that," he said.

"I was very anxious playing a game again," Koehler said. "It has been six months. The line obviously was not what I wanted to see, but at this point I'm not too concerned about that."

Comeback bid

The Cardinals' Jeremy Hefner, trying to come back from two Tommy John operations, allowed one earned run over two innings.

Backup candidate

The Marlins' Justin Maxwell hit a homer and robbed Patrick Wisdom of a homer with a catch in center field. Maxwell is a contender for a roster spot as backup outfielder.

"He can play all three outfield spots," Mattingly said. "He's a versatile guy who gives us some depth. This is great opportunity for him to swing the bat and show us what he can do."

Trainer's room

• Cardinals: Right-handed Matt Bowman was scheduled to pitch Thursday but was scratched after he awoke with blurry vision, and instead was sent to an eye doctor. He was hit in the eye during a drill Wednesday.
• Marlins: Outfielder Christian Yelich, who has been nursing a stiff back, is scheduled to make his spring training debut today.

Spring goal

Before the game, Matheny said last year's team left room for improvement running the bases. He wants the Cardinals to be more aggressive to put more pressure on the defense.

"We can still be a better base-running team," he said. "I don't think it's something we should be satisfied with."

Tommy Pham took the message to heart. He tripled to start the first inning and continued home when Gold Glove second baseman Dee Gordon made a throwing error on the play.

"Good to see him push the limits," Matheny said.

Up next

Cardinals left-hander Jaime Garcia is scheduled to start against Houston today.