NORTH PORT, Fla. — In two outings this spring, Cardinals opening day starter Jack Flaherty has encountered the same hiccup.
Flaherty, targeting three innings and as much as 50 pitches in his second outing of the exhibition schedule, got eight outs and held the Braves to one run on two hits through his 2 2/3 innings. He had to pitch around trouble, particularly in the second inning. Four of the final eight batters Flaherty faced saw at least six pitches. During one four-batter stretch, Flaherty had three pitches out of at least seven pitches.
He walked two batters in the second inning, and that led to a run for the Braves.