JUPITER, Fla. — Big-bonus import Roberto De La Cruz made his spring game debut Thursday with the St. Louis Cardinals Low-A affiliate, and he rapped a couple hits, including a double. Just because the Dominican Republic teen is with a full-season squad to open the spring, doesn’t mean he’ll be with one when the season starts. De La Cruz received a record bonus, the highest ever given by the Cardinals to an international free agent, and he’s come as advertised — big frame, solid swing … But he’s earmarked right now for a Johnson City assignment after more work here in extended spring.

The Cardinals take their pool of minor league players and split them between the three highest levels and then lump all of the remaining players into two Quad Cities-level teams. Many of those players will find themselves later assigned to short-season clubs — especially as the trickle down of players continues from the major-league camp.

Last night’s drive across the state of Florida delayed my posting of the results from yesterday’s game. Today’s will be more prompt. That is, if games are played. It’s raining here now. Thursday’s Vuch Report

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New Orleans 10, Memphis 4

– Lefty Justin Fiske, a pickup from an independent league ala Josh Kinney, pitched two innings, allowed two hits, one earned run. …  Korean pitcher Hyang-Nam Choi threw 2 IP and allowed three hitts and two runs. … Shaun Garceau took the loss after a line of 1.2 IP 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K. … Late addition to the 40-man Matt Scherer, who coaches kids in St. Louis during the offseason, pitched an inning, allowed three hits and two runs with two strikeouts. … Lefty Charlie Manning went 1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER and Marco Gonzalez had 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER.

– Pride of Tulane, the Audubon Park masher, Mark Hamilton, was 2-for-4 with two doubles. … Catcher Brandon Yarbrough, was 2-for-3 with double and run score Jarrett Hoffpauir 2-run double. … Former bayou bengal Nick Stavinoha played catcher in the game and went 1-for-4.

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Jacksonville 7, Springfield 1

– Ryan Bird started and took the loss after throwing two inings and allowing three earned runs on three hits and one walk. … Ryan Kulik pitched two scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and a walk against two strikeouts. … Elvis Hernandez had a line of 2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 Ks. … Davis Bilardello 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER. … Closer-type reliever Ken Maiques, who needs a good year this year to regain his footing in the crowded righthanded side of the Cardinals’ relief prospect pool, pitched one inning and gave a hit and a run.

– So the Cardinals took this KU kid, and word around the club this winter was he may just be the best athlete in minor-league camp. He runs as fast or faster than many of the middle infielders. He’s got high scores in all the agility and athleticism tests that he had to do. But his most marketable asset is: he throws lefthanded. Sam Freeman, a recent draft pick, has been tabbed by some in the organization as a quick-mover, especially since he fits one of their Need Positions. Freeman threw one perfect inning with two Ks.

– Steve Hill went 2-for-3 with a home run. … Andrew Brown was 1-for-4 with a double. … Tyler Henley and Donovan Solano had a base hit each.

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Palm Beach 3, Jupiter 2

– Brian Broderick put together a line of 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 Ks. … JD Stambaugh pitched two innings with two hits and one earned run. He walked one, struck out one. … Pete Parise tossed two perfect innings with a strikeouts. … Wayne Daman threw a scoreless inning, allowing one hit. … Matt Spade got the win after a line of 1 IP, 1 H, 0 runs. … Casey Mulligan finished the game for the save with a perfect inning, one K.

– Francisco Rivera was 2-for-4 with a couple runs and an RBI. … Jon Edwards was 2-for-4 with a run scored, RBI. … Blake Murphy knocked an RBI double in his only at-bat. … Adron Chambers, the former college football player who took the bus to a Cardinals’ tryout camp, Brian Cartie, 2008 draft pick Jermaine Curtis were all 1-for-3. … Aaron Luna was 1-for-2 while Oliver Marmol, Team Netherlands PH Curt Smith and Charlie Kingrey were 1-for-4.

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Greensboro 10, Quad Cities No. 1 1

– Deryk Hooker was the loser with six runs (five earned) and three walks in 1+ innings pitched. … Jameson Maj had a line of 2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER. …  Zachary Pitts was 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 Ks. … Gary Daley, who came out of college a few years ago with some of the of the best stuff of his draft class, had a like of 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. … Jason Buursma all three runs (all unearned) in two innings. … Jose Rada struck out the side in his only inning of work

– Domnit Bolivar was 2-for-3 with an RBI. … Osvaldo Morales, Frederick Parejo – the teenager who hit the only home run of the NY-Penn League All-Star Game — and Chris Swauger had the only other hits. They both singled.

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Quad Cities No. 2 9, Marlins 5th 6

– Prep pick Brett Zawacki had a line of 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 Ks. … Michael Blazek had a line of 2 IP, 3 H with one run (it was unearned). … Reynier Gonzalez 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 Ks. … Joshua Hester tossed two perfect innings with two strikeouts.

– And then there was Roberto De La Cruz’s debut. He went 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and a walk. … Jairo Martinez was 2-for-4 with a HR. … Michael Swinson, 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs. … Edwin Gomez, 2-for-4. … Yunior Castillo, 1-for-2, with a run scored. … Nick Vera, singled and had two walks in his three plate appearances.

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