JUPITER, Fla. • Backup catcher Francisco Pena, son of former Cardinals catcher Tony Pena, saved the potential go-ahead run in the top of the eighth when he scrambled to recover Matt Bowman’s off-line toss with the bases loaded and threw to Bowman covering the plate for the final out. Then, Pena, who had been just one for seven this spring, singled in the winning run in the home eighth as the Cardinals nipped the Washington Nationals 4-3, Wednesday in exhibition baseball.
Luke Voit singled with one out and pinch runner Randy Arozarena went to second on a wild pitch in the Cardinals’ eighth.