JUPITER, Fla. • Bases on balls turn into runs in spring training precisely as they do in the regular season, which the Cardinals had reaffirmed to them, starkly, on Sunday.
St. Louis pitchers issued 11 walks, and five of those runners came around to score in a 12-2 exhibition setback to the Washington Nationals.
“Eleven walks. You’re clearly not going to be in a very competitive game with that,” said manager Mike Shildt.
Shildt ascribed part of the wildness to pitchers working for the first time this spring and trying to find their pace and rhythm.