Miller throws well in his Cardinals spring debut

VIERA, Fla. -- Shelby Miller isn't likely to break camp with the St. Louis Cardinals this spring, but the 21-year-old pitching prospect gave a good indication Wednesday that he's not that far away from being able to make an impact in the big leagues.

Miller, who overcame the early jitters of his first spring training start, allowed one run on two hits over two innings against the Washington Nationals in a game stopped after nine innings with the score tied at 3-3.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny was impressed with the way Miller mixed his pitches instead of relying on an overpowering fastball.

"He's just got good stuff," Matheny said. "He's starting to use his offspeed pitches a little better. He's getting a feel of when to use them when he's behind in the count. He's maturing every time he gets out there."

Cardinals reliever Lance Lynn gave up a tying two-run homer to Carlos Maldonado in the ninth.

Daniel Descalso homered for St. Louis.

Ian Desmond led off the game for Washington with a double and later scored on a single by Jason Michaels.

Miller has been picked the Cardinals' minor league pitcher of the year the past two seasons. While he is likely to start this season in Class AAA, he isn't hiding the fact he'd like to make the jump to the big leagues soon.

"I definitely feel closer than I have the past two years just because I've thrown in the high minor leagues and succeeded," he said. "I had a really good year last year and hopefully will get an opportunity to pitch in St. Louis this year."

Being able to rely on more than just his fastball not only is something he learned facing Class AA hitters last season, it also could be the key to ramping up that big league timetable.

"It's something that needs to be done for me to get to St. Louis because it's something that's going to help me in the long run," Miller said. "I've always loved throwing fastballs more in the past, but now I'm getting to love to throw my changeup and curveball more because it's fun to watch the pitch move, and it's fun to make the hitters look a little silly sometimes, if you can."