JUPITER, Fla. • Miles Mikolas, the Cardinals’ announced opening-day starter, tossed two perfect innings in the first exhibition game Saturday. But non-roster lefthander Tommy Layne, a Fort Zumwalt South High product, and Ryan Helsley were the most dominant Cardinals pitchers on a day when a Memphis-laden mid-game lineup blasted the Miami Marlins 11-1.
Veteran Layne, 34, had allowed righthanded batters to hit him at a .286 clip for his six-season career, as opposed to his .187 mark against lefthanders. So, Layne struck out three righthanded batters in succession, including Starlin Castro, in the fourth inning.
Helsley, who, like Layne was at Class AAA Memphis last year, ticked 100 miles an hour as retired all six hitters he faced in two innings, fanning three.