By Chris Brown – STL Baseball Today
Jupiter, Fla – Michael Wacha struck out four over 5 2/3 scoreless innings and the Cardinals bullpen did the rest, keeping the Nationals off the board through nine as a Ty Kelly sac fly in the eighth proved to be the difference in the Cardinals’ 1-0 win at Rodger Dean Stadium on Wednesday.
After the Nationals’ $210 million dollar man, offseason acquisition Max Scherzer, and the Washington bullpen held the redbirds scoreless through seven innings, the Cardinals were able to scrape out a run in the bottom of the eighth. After second baseman Kolten Wong reached on a hit-by-pitch, pinch runner Charlie Tilson swiped second and advanced to third on a wild pitch before Ty Kelly, who is fighting for a reserve spot on the 25-man roster, drove him in on a sacrifice fly to center field off reliever Aaron Barrett.
The Cardinals were able to load the bases before Stephen Piscotty struck out to end the inning. But projected setup man Jordan Walden slammed the door on the Nationals, striking out the side to secure the redbirds’ tenth win of the spring.
FINAL: Cardinals 1, Nationals 0 — W-Belisle, L-Barrett, SV- Walden — Wacha 5 2/3 IP, 4 K, 0 ER, Ty Kelly RBI
Next: Thur 3/26 Marlins @ Cardinals, Henderson Alvarez vs Adam Wainwright
—————————-
Gallery: More images from Wednesday’s game
