Matt Adams once again provided the answer.

The Cardinals' first-base prospect broke open the tie game with an opposite-field, bases-loaded, stand-up triple to score Adron Chambers, Matt Carpenter and Mark Hamilton against lefthander Jesse Carlson. Adams' three-run drive came two days after he reached the New York Mets for an opposite-field grand slam in Port St. Lucie. Adams again went to left-center field for Thursday's game-breaker.

Jaime Garcia, Chuckie Fick, Nick Gast and Eduardo Sanchez held the Red Sox scoreless for six innings while the Cardinals tried to manufacture a run following the departure of the regular lineup.

Sanchez stretched his first outing of the spring for two innings and 38 pitches. Coming off a injury-abbreviated season, Sanchez struggled for precision but offered a sharp breaking pitch that kept the Sox hitters off his 93 mile-per-hour fastball. The Cardinals planned to use Fernando Salas and Mitchell Boggs today, which would mean every member of the bullpen would have received game exposure.

The Cardinals created a sixth-inning threat when Chambers singled, stole second and Carpenter and Hamilton worked walks with none out. Adams seven RBI account for nearly half of the Cardinals' first 16 runs this spring.

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