JUPITER, Fla. • Cardinals righthander Michael Wacha, who had been cuffed for 23 hits and nine runs in his first 12 2/3 innings this spring, was in 2015 All-Star form on Wednesday as he stifled the Miami Marlins on two hits and no runs for five innings. Then, righthander Jordan Walden, injury-plagued last year and down for a week this spring, reeled off his eighth straight scoreless inning this spring with a perfect sixth inning.
With both pitchers answering any lingering questions about them before the season opener on Sunday in Pittsburgh, the Cardinals held a 3-0 lead over Miami in the seventh inning.