WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.• Luke Weaver had been efficient in his first two spring starts, allowing four hits and one earned run and walking only one over five innings. On Sunday, the 24-year-old Cardinals righthander was perfect.
Facing a Washington Nationals lineup that included Bryce Harper, Weaver set down in order the 12 men he faced over four innings, striking out four, as the Cardinals edged the Nationals 4-3 in exhibition baseball.
The next best pitching by a Cardinal was turned in by reliever Josh Lucas, who escaped a bases-loaded, one-out spot he inherited in the seventh by throwing an inning-ending double play ball and then pitching the eighth for his fifth consecutive scoreless outing, covering seven innings.