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Jose Martinez stays hot, Carson Kelly and Jack Flaherty sent to Memphis

The Cardinals trimmed their roster to 40 by sending some of their top prospects to Memphis for the start of the season.
Credit: Jasen Vinlove
St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Jose Martinez grounds into a force out at 2nd base and is safe at first in the second inning of a spring training game against the Nationals at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

By Rob Rains

JUPITER, Fla. – \It will take some creativity, but Jose Martinez showed again on Sunday why the Cardinals will be certain to get his bat in the lineup as often as possible this season.

Martinez hit his third homer of the spring and also delivered a two-run double in a five-run sixth inning to lead the Cardinals to a 10-0 win over the Washington Nationals in Jupiter, Fla.

With Martinez getting the start at first base, Matt Carpenter made his first start of the spring at third base before moving to second base in the fourth, trading places with Jedd Gyorko.

Seven pitchers combined to limit the Nationals to just three hits in the team’s second consecutive shutout. They held the Braves to just one hit in a 3-0 win on Saturday.

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Other news and notes from Sunday:

In the clubhouse: Six players were optioned to triple-A Memphis after the game, including catcher Carson Kelly, who had been expected to open the year as Molina’s backup … Also sent out were pitchers Jack Flaherty, John Gant and Ryan Sherriff, outfielder Oscar Mercado and infielder Breyvic Valera. The moves leave 40 players in camp … The members of the PCL champion Memphis Redbirds from last season received their championship rings in a pre-game ceremony.

At the plate: Martinez is tied with Yadier Molina for the team-high in homers this spring and his 12 RBIs are the most on the team. He led the Cardinals in both categories last spring as well … Eight of the Cardinals’ 13 hits went for extra bases, including a triple by Randy Arozarena and doubles from Dexter Fowler, Harrison Bader and Luke Voit.

On the mound: John Gant made his first start of the spring but only pitched two innings to begin the parade of pitchers that did not walk a batter and combined for eight strikeouts … Luke Gregerson worked a quick 1-2-3 ninth in his first appearance since an oblique injury and only his second appearance this spring … Josh Lucas, Brett Cecil and Bud Norris also turned in perfect innings.

On the back fields: Carlos Martinez made his start in a minor-league game against the Marlins, working six innings … Adam Wainwright’s next start also could come in a minor-league game.

Up next: The Cardinals will have the day off on Monday. They have six games remaining in Florida before breaking camp, beginning on Tuesday against the Mets in Jupiter.

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