5 takeaways from Cardinals series win over the Brewers

Adam Wainwright pitched a gem, but it wasn’t enough

Adam Wainwright was going into his 319th game with long-time battery mate Yadier Molina, just six starts away from breaking the record of 324 held by Detroit Tigers battery Mickey Lolich and Bill Freehan.

Wainwright looked vintage in the start with his legendary 12-6 curveball on point, leading to eight strikeouts and 11 swings and misses. He had a confident swagger.

Wainwright even had a no-hitter through six innings. And then Andrew McCutchen broke it up with a single. It was sad to see happen as he was pitching an absolute gem. It looked like he would finally get that elusive no-hitter.

He did have a shutout going. Things were looking up in the seventh inning as Nolan Gorman doubled on a liner to center field, scoring Paul Goldschmidt. It was 1-0 going into the eighth inning.  With Kolten Wong grounding out, the inning was off to a good start.

And then Luis Urias came to bat. Urias knocked his 13th homer of the season on a fly to right-center field. But Wainwright remained in the game and finished out the ninth inning. With the game tied at one after nine, Wainwright exited the game in hopes of the Cardinals pulling off a victory in extra innings.

Giovanny Gallegos took over in the tenth inning. With Andrew McCutchen at second base as the ghost runner to start the tenth, Hunter Renfroe knocked a triple to right field. Corey Dickerson appeared to misplay his route to get to the ball, allowing McCutchen to score. Wong put the icing on the cake for the Brewers with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Renfroe.

The Cardinals didn’t give up, though. In their half of the tenth, Dylan Carlson knocked a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Nolan Gorman to score. Unfortunately, that was all they were to get off of Matt Bush on Saturday.

The Cardinals were 1-for-4 with runners in scoring on Saturday, leaving five runners on base. A staggering 11 batters struck out at the plate, though. Hopefully, the next time Wainwright pitches, the team will provide some substantial run support for him.