WASHINGTON — At the end of a road trip that began with another injured starter and was surrounded by the Cardinals’ ongoing attempts to trade for a starter, the youngest member of the rotation asserted his place in it.
Andre Pallante flirted with becoming the youngest starter to throw a shutout for the Cardinals in eight years as he carved through the Washington Nationals for eight stellar innings. Pallante was unable to get an out in the ninth, leaving the 5-0 victory at Nationals Park for closer Ryan Helsley to secure. Before allowing two hits to start the ninth, Pallante had collected 21 outs from the previous 20 batters he faced, including two double plays.
He left the mound escorted by a standing ovation from the crowd.
