St. Louis wraps up exhibition games on high note

TAMPA, Fla. -- Mike Leake pitched four scoreless innings and Stephen Piscotty homered twice on Thursday, leading St. Louis to a 9-1 victory over a split squad of New York Yankees in the Cardinals' final spring training game.

Leake gave up two hits and struck out five. He got inning-ending double plays from Alex Rodriguez and Chase Headley.

Leake, who signed an $80 million, five-year contract in December, has 24 strikeouts and two walks in 20 spring innings. He threw 33 of 39 pitches for strikes.

Piscotty hit a second-inning solo shot, and added his second homer this spring one pitch after Brandon Moss had a solo drive during the fourth off Michael Pineda.

"I don't worry about that," Pineda said. "I feel great."

Jeremy Hazelbaker added a three-run homer in the fifth. Tommy Pham had a two-run shot in the seventh.

Pineda gave up six runs and seven hits over five innings. He had given up just one run in nine earlier spring innings.

"I thought he threw the ball better than his numbers indicated," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "I'm not so sure how many of those are home runs if the wind is not blowing (out). But I thought he threw pretty good."

Rodriguez was hitless in three at-bats and is hitting .273 (12 for 44) overall. After homering on his first at-bat of spring training, A-Rod has not gone deep in 43 since. The homer is his only extra-base hit.

Starting time

Cardinals: Jaime Garcia and Carlos Martinez will remain at the team's complex in Florida to throw in minor league games in preparation for starts next week.

Yankees: Girardi said Masahiro Tanaka will start on opening day.

Trainer's room

Cardinals: Shortstop Ruben Tejada left in the second with a left quadriceps strain and will start the season on the disabled list. Infielder Greg Garcia (sore right knee) replaced Tejada.

Yankees: Closer Andrew Miller plans to pitch through a chip fracture on his non-throwing wrist. He was hit by a liner in Wednesday's game against Atlanta.

Molina in motion

Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina had an infield single in the second and then stole second base uncontested. It was his first stolen base this spring. Molina has 44 stolen bases in 1,464 regular-season games.

Up next

Cardinals: St. Louis will work out Saturday in Pittsburgh, one day before Adam Wainwright faces the Pirates on opening day.

Yankees: Eovaldi will go against Miami's Jose Fernandez tonight in the opener of a two-game, spring training-ending series at Marlins Park.