KISSIMMEE, Fla. • As he headed to the mound for his only inning of work Friday in an exhibition game against the Houston Astros, Cardinals righthander Jordan Walden felt something he had not in a long time.
He was nervous.
Eventually, by the time he had struck out two and completed a scoreless sixth inning, one new but old sensation gave way to another, one just as retro: relief.
“Not (from) the unknown. Just from pitching,” Walden said. “Anxious. Adrenaline rushes. Stuff a lot of guys don’t get in spring training, I’m getting. I love it.