ANAHEM, Calif. -- Following the trend set by Shelby Miller and, seemingly, the philosophy set at the major-league level, prospect reliever Eduardo Sanchez pumped fastballs and coaxed groundballs in his 2/3 innings of work at the Futures Game.

Starting the eighth inning for the World Team at this year's Futures Game here at Angels Stadium, Sanchez got three groundballs. One was mishandled by the shortstop, and Sanchez complicated matters with a wild pitch. The righty retired two of the three batters he faced and allowed one run. It was unearned.

Sanchez regularly hit 96 mph with his fastball.

The ESPN gun, which apparently is different than both the pitch F/x and stadium radar gun, showed him touching 97 mph.

The two Cardinals pitchers who appeared in the Futures Game combined to pitch 1 1/3 innings. They faced five batters and got five groundballs. Yes, they both had exposure to the major-league coaching staff during major-league spring training.

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MILLER MAKES FUTURES DEBUT

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Shelby Miller got both of the batters he faced to hit high-bounding groundballs. With the help of one runner sliding past second base on his attempted steal, Miller worked 2/3 scoreless innings in the Futures Game.

Miller mostly threw at 95 mph to 96 mph with his fastball, and he misfired on a few breaking balls. The righty got groundballs on two 94+ mph fastballs. One was chopped so high that it allowed the runner to reach on an infield second. The other nicked Miller's glove, but the shortstop was able to make the play behind him for Miller's final out.

Eduardo Sanchez has yet to appear in the game.

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PRE-GAME LINEUPS

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- One of the youngest prospects in the game and one of the few from a Low-A league, St. Louis Cardinals minor-league pitcher Shelby Miller looked around the room when asked if he knew any of the other players.

"I've faced Mike Trout," he said, referencing the Angels' outfielder. "I just met Jordan Lyles."

Lyles, sitting next to Miller, is from the Houston organization.

"And then," Miller continued. "No ... No ..."

He finished scanning the room.

"But I'm going to take some time to meet all of them I can," he continued. "There's a lot I can get from this."

It's fitting that Miller mentioned both Trout and Lyles this afternoon, when I caught up with him in the Team USA clubhouse there at Angels Stadium. Those are two of the few prospects in the Futures Game -- and the only two on the U.S. roster -- that are younger than the Cardinals' 19-year-old righthander. Miller won't turn 20 until October, and by then he'll completed his first full professional season and made his Futures Game debut.

Miller and reliever Eduardo Sanchez are the Cardinals two reps at the annual showcase of minor-league prospects. Miller expects to get an inning of work, though earlier today he had not been told what inning.

Sanchez, a righthanded reliever, will be used in that role by Team World. Sanchez is from Venezuela and the Cardinals recently promoted the fireball righty to Class AAA. He raved about Class AA pitching coach Dennis Martinez when asked this afternoon.

"Confident. Determined," Sanchez said. "He told us to pitch with conviction."

Sanchez was throwing high 80s and low 90s when the Cardinals signed him as onre of their early international free agents. Since the slightly builty, 155-pound righthander has blossomed with heat -- he can consistently throw in the high-90s. And what sets him apart from some of the other high-velocity relievers the Cardinals have is simple: He throws strikes. He has 10 walks and 33 strikeouts in 31 2/3 innings this season.

He said when he started firing heat it "was a life-changer."

More or Miller and Sanchez in Monday's Post-Dispatch. In the meantime, here are the lineups for today's Futures Game:

TEAM USA

1. Desmond Jennings, LF -- TB

2. Dee Gordon, SS -- LAD

3. Mike Moustakas, 3B -- KC

4. Domonic Brown, RF -- PHI

5. Eric Hosmer, DH -- KC

6. Hank Conger, C -- LAA

7. Brett Jackson, CF -- CHI

8. Logan Morrison, 1B -- FLA

9. Drew Cumberland, 2B -- SD

Pitcher: Jeremy Hellickson, RHP -- TB

THE WORLD

1. Brett Lawrie, 2B -- MIL

2. Ozzie Martinez, SS -- FLA

3. Yonder Alonso, 1B -- CIN

4. Alex Liddi, 3B -- SEA

5. Carlos Peguero, LF -- SEA

6. Wilkin Ramirez, RF -- DET

7. Wilin Rosario, C -- COL

8. Gorkys Hernandez, CF -- PIT

9. Francisco Peguero, DH -- SF

Pitcher: Simon Castro, RHP -- SD

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