Cardinals' Giovanny Gallegos: Gets first spring ninth-inning nod

Gallegos pitched a clean ninth inning in Sunday's Grapefruit League tie with the Nationals, recording two strikeouts.

It was notably Gallegos, and not eventual presumptive closer Jordan Hicks, who got the first ninth-inning call of spring, although it came in a non-save situation with the Cardinals actually down 4-2 entering the frame. The presence of Gallegos is a luxury of sorts for manager Mike Shildt; the hard-throwing right-hander proved effective in a closing role last season (4-for-4 in save chances) and certainly could soften the landing for Hicks in his return to game action after nearly two years off due to Tommy John surgery and last season's COVID-19 opt-out.