JUPITER, Fla. -- A.J. Cole showed the Nationals that they don't need to hand the fifth starting spot to Jeremy Hellickson quite yet.
Cole struck out six batters while only allowing one run over four innings in the Nationals' 10-0 loss to the Cardinals on Sunday.
"Just trying to go after them," Cole said.
Cole struck out the first two batters he faced -- Dexter Fowler looking and Tommy Pham swinging. He didn't allow a hit until Randy Arozarena's leadoff triple into the right-center-field gap in the third inning.