Cards' Lackey shrugs off lackluster outing in loss to Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. -- John Lackey worked into the fifth inning in his second spring start, allowing four runs as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-6 on Sunday.

Adam Jones homered twice for Baltimore, driving in four runs, and Manny Machado hit a solo home run.

Jones hit a three-run homer in the fifth off Mitch Wilson. He also homered in the fourth off Lackey. The center fielder has three home runs this spring. Machado homered and doubled against Lackey.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny is allowing Lackey to work his way into form, but did take him on a cross-state road trip.

"All things considered, I felt pretty good. Being 36 and riding 3 1/2 hours on a bus," Lackey said.

Lackey wasn't concerned about pitching to the Orioles, against whom he has started 27 times during the regular season.

"There are a couple of times I would have thrown totally different pitches if it was a regular game," Lackey said.

"They have some good hitters and some good power, but it was obvious, I was throwing fastballs. I'm not overly concerned about results right now."

Matheny rarely visits the mound without removing a pitcher, but he did this time. Just before Machado's double, he let Lackey convince him he should stay in.

"I was planning on it until I caught eyes with him. I could see he wanted to talk about it, at least," Matheny said. "I said that's fine, it's your last hitter, though. He said 'that sounds good."'

Bud Norris allowed three runs -- one of them unearned in four innings. Matt Adams hit a long two-run home run to center field in the third.

Randal Grichuk hit a two run homer in the ninth off Chaz Roe to key a three-run Cardinals ninth.

Trainer's room

Orioles right-handed pitcher Hunter Harvey, the team's No. 1 draft choice in 2013, was hit by a comebacker in a minor league game on Saturday and suffered a slight fracture in his fibula. He's expected to be out four-to-six weeks.

Starting time

• Cardinals left-handed pitcher Jaime Garcia will throw a simulated game Tuesday, which is the second scheduled open date of the spring for St. Louis.

Up next

• Cardinals right-handed pitcher Lance Lynn starts against Boston right-hander Rick Porcello today in Fort Myers. Lynn, who has been slowed by a hip injury, has pitched just one inning this spring.