Gonzalez, Reyes open strong in Cards' exhibition victory

~ St. Louis collecteda 7-0 victory over the New York Mets.

JUPITER, Fla. -- Juan Gonzalez, trying to make the St. Louis roster as a reserve, got two hits and drove in a run Thursday as the Cardinals poste a 7-0 exhibition win over the New York Mets.

At 38, Gonzalez is a two-time AL MVP with 434 career home runs. He sat out the last two years -- in 2005 he tore a hamstring in his only at-bat while with Cleveland.

Gonzalez is hoping to hook on with the Cardinals as a backup outfielder and pinch-hitter. He was the designated hitter against the Mets.

Anthony Reyes pitched three scoreless innings, limiting the Mets to a pair of singles. He did not walk a batter.

New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes waited for the ball while the Cardinals' Jason LaRue slid safely into third base during Thursday's spring training game in Jupiter, Fla. (ROB CARR ~ Associated Press)

"I'm going out there to throw strikes. That's what I've always done, that's what I'm used to doing," said Reyes, 2-14 last season. "I got away from it the last few years."

Skip Schumaker led St. Louis with three hits. The Cardinals nicked John Maine for three runs in the second inning.

Cardinals center fielder Rick Ankiel made a tumbling, juggling catch on the warning track on a ball hit by David Wright in the first inning.

"That might have changed the game," St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said. "He's got quickness. He concentrates well. He gets a great jump. He has a cannon."

Cardinals prospect Colby Rasmus has reached base all six times he's been to the plate in the first two games with three walks, two singles and a double. He has scored five runs.

St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols throws his bat after being hit by a pitch during the fifth inning against the New York Mets during a spring training baseball game, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008, in Jupiter, Fla. The Cardinals won, 7-0. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)

Noteworthy

• Cardinals right-hander Joel Pineiro was scratched from his scheduled start Sunday after reporting stiffness in his throwing shoulder on Wednesday.