JUPITER, Fla. — In the final hours of pool play in the U.S. and opening innings of elimination rounds overseas, the World Baseball Classic pitted Cardinal pitcher vs. Cardinal batter with the chance to advance in the balance.
Early Thursday morning, Team Japan had rushed to an early lead when Andre Pallante faced Cardinals teammate Lars Nootbaar and tried to stall for a Team Italia rally. Nootbaar did not do his teammate any favors by ending the at-bat swiftly. Nootbaar, the leadoff hitter for Team Japan, worked Pallante and Pallante’s fastball through an extended at-bat that ended on the seventh pitch.