Adam Wainwright composes himself after giving up a run to the Cubs. UPI/Bill Greenblatt
Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright can’t figure it out. “It’s tough to explain, really I didn’t make very many bad pitches. It’s a crazy game, man.” Wainwright lost for the fifth time in his last six starts as the Cubs beat the Cardinals 7-2.
Wainwright had a major league’s best 1.52 ERA at home, but he tied his career worst with 12 hits allowed as he gave up five runs in eight innings. Wainwright is 11-3 at home, 18-11 overall.
Adam Wainwright post game comments (3:30)
Xavier Nady went 3 for 5 and drove in three runs for Chicago and once again the opposing pitcher helped his cause as Randy Wells had two RBIs as well. Wells won for just the second time in 10 starts by going eight innings and allowing just one run on five hits while striking out five.
Xavier Nady beats Yadier Molina's tag for a Cubs' run. UPI/Bill Greenblatt
Albert Pujols did not play after sitting out the game with a sore elbow. Pujols got a cortisone shot before the game. Cincinnati also lost, so the Cards remained seven behind with 19 games to play.
Wainwright has lost five of his last six starts, a fade that has coincided with the team’s late-season slump. In all but one of the losses, he thought bad luck was a major factor with most of the damage on bloopers and bleeders finding holes.