G. Garcia has two-game cycle

JUPITER, Fla. • Utility infielder Greg Garcia hardly has earned his keep with the Cardinals as an extra-base machine. But, after racking up an inside-the-park homer in the eighth inning and then a single in the ninth of their last exhibition at game, Garcia tripled and scored in the first inning on Wednesday and then hit a ground-rule double in the third off Washington ace Max Scherzer.

That amounted to a two-day cycle for Garcia, who had only 14 extra-base hits in 214 at-bats last year for the Cardinals.

MARTINEZ IS STRONG IN COMEBACK

Carlos Martinez, making his first start since March 1, after which he left for the World Baseball Classic, set down the Nationals for the first three innings on…