Mulder will get start in first exhibition

JUPITER, Fla. -- Mark Mulder, the St. Louis Cardinals' biggest offseason acquisition, will start the spring training opener tonight against the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Mulder, a 17-game winner last year for the Oakland Athletics, also is expected to start the season opener for St. Louis.

Center fielder Jim Edmonds, who has swelling in his right shin from a foul tip on Tuesday, is not expected to make the trip for the spring opener.

The Cardinals used almost exclusively minor league prospects Wednesday in their final tuneup for the spring schedule, an 8-2 victory over Florida Atlantic University. Evan Rust pitched two scoreless innings in relief for the victory, and Carmen Cali, who played for Florida Atlantic, pitched a perfect ninth.

"He was pitching in front of a lot of friends, his family and his former coaches," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "He was impressive with good command and good stuff."

Mike Mahoney, the likely starting catcher at Class AAA Memphis, was 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Wilton Guerrero, among those competing for a backup infield job with St. Louis, was 2-for-2 and Reid Gorecki was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

John Gall, an outfielder at Memphis last season, batted cleanup. Bo Hart, also battling for a backup infield job, started at second base and was 1-for-2.

Cardinals starter Nerio Rodriguez allowed two runs on two hits in two innings.

ST. LOUIS 8, FLORIDA ATLANTIC 2

Florida Atlantic 020 000 000 -- 2 5 3

St. Louis 121 000 31x -- 8 11 0

Costello, Sneir (3), Eberhart (4), Salivar (5), Dunn (6), DeMichael (7), Salberg (8) and Silversmith, Yodice; Rodriguez, Rust (3), Cummings (5), Flores (7), File (8), Cali (9) and Mahoney, McKay, Cresse. W--Rust. L--Sneir.