TAMPA, Fla. — With only a few more pitches to spend, a scoreless tie to hold, and a former MVP plate at the plate, Cardinals right-hander Jake Woodford got the moment he has prepared for so many times on the back fields of spring training and never got the opportunity.
Yankees cleanup hitter Giancarlo Stanton, jammed by a two-strike sinker, hit Woodford’s pitch up, but not high enough to go far enough for anyone other than the pitcher to catch.
Here it was: Woodford’s chance to snag a fly.
“Called it. Two hands,” Woodford said. “It might not have been the most athletic look ever.