ST. LOUIS — Adam Wainwright, two weeks shy of his 41st birthday, stopped the Colorado Rockies on three hits over seven innings Thursday in a 13-0 Cardinals victory. But Wainwright had to defer to his elders.
Albert Pujols, 42 years old, was the story of the day at Busch Stadium, achieving something he never had done in his storied career by pinch-hitting a grand slam in the third inning against former Cardinals left-hander Austin Gomber. Pujols’ homer, the 690th of his career, sixth as a pinch hitter and 16th grand slam overall, was the cherry on top of Thursday’s game.
The Cardinals already led 6-0 when Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol pulled back left-handed-hitting Brendan Donovan, who had had two hits, and sent up Pujols. On the second pitch to him, a 92-mph fastball, Pujols drilled a liner just over the left-field wall for his 11th homer of the season and third in his past three games.
His 16th slam tied Henry Aaron, Babe Ruth and Dave Kingman for 10th on the career charts. Gomber had set himself up for this by walking three hitters previously in the inning.
It was Pujols’ third grand slam hit behind Wainwright, both of the previous ones coming in 2009. With five total bases, including a run-scoring single in the seventh for his fifth run batted in, Pujols moved one behind Cardinals great Stan Musial for second all-time in total bases at 6,133. Aaron leads at 6,856.
The Cardinals, who are 15-3 this month, shot to 15 games over .500 at 66-51 as they swept the three-game series, beating the Rockies for the 12th consecutive time at Busch, 18th time in 19 meetings and 35th time in the past 41 games here.
Wainwright and 40-year-old catcher Yadier Molina, who threw out a runner trying to steal, combined for their 320th start as a battery, four off the major league mark set by Detroit’s Mickey Lolich throwing to Bill Freehan.
After taking a no-hitter into the seventh in his most recent start only to get a no-decision, Wainwright scored his ninth victory this year and 193rd in his career.
Two of the Rockies’ three hits off him were on the infield. Wainwright didn't walk a batter for the fifth time this season and struck out seven. He set down the final 13 men to face him.
The Cardinals' victory was their most one-sided shutout win at Busch.
