St. Louis Cardinals: Mid-game Reaction, Wainwright Edition

The St. Louis Cardinals have found success in the last nine games winning six of these nine.  To add to this, California is treating the birds nicely.  Can the same be said about Wainwright?  Is tonight’s game the search for or the return of the Wainwright we all know and love?

This post is one kind of post that we hope to provide from time-to-time chronicling the happenings and reactions we have to St. Louis Cardinals games.  Tonight, the Cardinals search for their sweep of the Angels and search for the return of Adam Wainwright.

I admit that I am often nervous about Waino climbing the mound this season.  Tonight was no different.  Having said that, the recent success that the Cardinals are experiencing lend me to believe that this series might be the right place for Wainwright to show up and show up like the ace we all know him to be.

Let’s look at his showing thus far tonight…

First Inning

Single

Doubleplay

Force out (5-3)

Second Inning

Force out (1-3)

Pop out (6)

Fly out (9)

Pitch count: 23

Third Inning

Line out (3)

Strikeout swinging

Single

Double, no RBI

Single, 2 RBI

4-pitch Walk

Force out (4-3)

Pitch count: 42

Fourth Inning

Home run (lead surrendered)

Double

Single

Sacrifice Bunt

Single, 1 RBI (Angels take the lead)

Fielder’s choice (6-4) [failed the double-play on Kolton Wong error] (run scored)

Strikeout swinging

Pitch count: 64

Summation

Waino looked good initially and was keeping his pitches down.  Then the wheels came off in the fourth inning.  His pitches became flat and over the heart of the plate.  The offense might pick him up again as the first two runners have made their way on base as I am writing this.

More from Adam Wainwright

• The St. Louis Cardinals’ 2024 rotation needs work
• Cardinals: Adam Wainwright commits to Team USA for the WBC
• Adam Wainwright announces 2023 return to Cardinals
• St. Louis Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright reveals reason for September struggles
• St. Louis Cardinals: Paul DeJong, Jack Flaherty and Waino’s Dead Arm

Having said that, Wainwright’s pitch count and command left Mike Matheny to get the bullpen active in the fourth.  Seung Hwan Oh was up and warming up.  Will he enter in the fifth?

Holy cow!  I must have called it: Matt Carpenter just blasted a three-run home run to put the Cardinals back up on top!  Will Oh come in now?  Hold on… Stephen Piscotty just smacked a single and the inning continues with no outs!

Back to Wainwright… I’m still worried about him.  I feel that maybe his time as a starter is coming to an end?  Can he only pitch a few innings like he did last season?  Time will tell and, unfortunately, Memphis doesn’t really have a better option to replace him if he needed to move to the pen.

Next: Time for Yadi Love

Let’s go Cardinals (leading now 6-5)!  Also, former Cardinal Brendan Ryan has entered the game for the Angels!  Gotta love former Cardinals!  And, just like that, Matt Holliday smashes a 2-run home run!  Now I’m going to go watch and enjoy!