It was made official yesterday, but it has been known since the start of spring training that Adam Wainwright will get the ball on opening day when the Cardinals open at home on Monday against the Pirates.
Wainwright pitched five innings giving up two runs on seven hits and walk while striking out four in the Cardinals 7-3 win over the Orioles. The Cardinals hit three homers in the win. Chris Duncan went deep in the third with two on and two out. Jason LaRue followed with a homer in the fourth, and Joe Mather added his 2nd home run in the 8th.
Jason Motte gave up two hits in the ninth, but sealed the game in a non-save situation by not allowing any runs. His ERA this spring is 1.59. It would appear
that Motte will start the season as a closer, but yesterday manager Tony LaRussa
would not commit to a starter.
“One of the reasons you say you’re not naming a closer is you’re not naming a closer. You just play the games, and everybody comes to the park thinking, ‘Hey, I might be the guy.'”
