Three walks issued, one forcing in a run and another a leadoff walk that scored. A hit batsman forcing in another run. A two-run homer on an 0-2 pitch. Who was that wearing Adam Wainwright’s jersey Monday night?
The 39-old Cardinals righthander, pitching in his 399th big league game, probably never has done all of those things in the same game — let alone in the first three innings of a game. But, after missing the Cardinals’ weekend trip to Pittsburgh when he landed on the COVID-19 list because of contract tracing with somebody in his family who had the virus, Wainwright was far from the same pitcher who a week before had pitched a complete-game loss to Philadelphia.
He did pass the 1,000 strikeout plateau for his career at Busch Stadium III (he had none at Busch II in two games). But, more importantly, his teammates helped take him off the hook.
