Suppan throws five strong innings in 3-2 loss to O's

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- It was a good day for Cardinals starter Jeff Suppan, even if St. Louis Cardinals ended up losing 3-2 to the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday in exhibition play.

In his fifth start this spring, Suppan allowed one run and five hits in five innings. He struck out five and walked none. He left the game with a 2-1 lead.

Suppan outpitched Orioles starter Bruce Chen, who allowed two runs and four hits in six innings.

Baltimore pulled ahead with a two-run eighth. Brian Roberts hit a leadoff triple and scored on a single by Luis Matos. Cardinals second baseman Junior Spivey then booted a potential double-play grounder, and Miguel Tejada followed with a grounder to second that Spivey picked up and threw wildly to first, allowing Matos to score the go-ahead run. Chris Ray worked a perfect ninth for the save.

Juan Encarnacion hit a two-run homer for the Cardinals, who managed only five hits off four Baltimore pitchers.