WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.•_Michael Wacha, throwing his fastball in the 96-97 mile an hour range, struck out three Washington Nationals hitters in the first four innings Friday and allowed Washington just two hits.
That was two hits more than the Cardinals had, however, against Nationals righthander Jeremy Guthrie, who allowed just a walk in first four innings. The exhibition game went scoreless to the fifth.
WACHA SURVIVES LONG FIRST
Thanks to a drop on a potential double play relay by shortstop Aledmys Diaz and some lengthy Washington Nationals at-bats, Cardinals starter Michael Wacha was forced to throw 34 pitches in the first inning Friday.