New York Mets pitcher Ryota Igarashi can only watch as St. Louis Cardinals Ryan Ludwick rounds the bases after hitting a two run home run in the eighth inning. UPI/.Bill Greenblatt
After Adam Wainwright pitched eight innings of shutout ball in the home opener on Monday, manager Tony LaRussa took him out of the ninth wanting to save his innings. Sunday night, LaRussa needed a full nine from Wainwright and got it.
Coming off a 20 inning game the night before, Wainwright threw 107 pitches and shook off a three run second inning to get a complete game 5-3 win. Wainwright allowed just four hits and two walks for the game as Ryan Ludwick hit a two run homer in the 8th inning to break the 3-3 tie. Colby Rasmus hit a three run homer in the fifth to tie the game.
After giving up three singles, two walks and a throwing errror which led to three second inning runs for the Mets, Wainwright allowed just one hit the rest of the way.