Adam Wainwright points to right field for a pop up to end the fifth inning. UPI/Bill Greenblatt
Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright improved to 7-8, by giving up one run, striking out seven of the first 13 hitters he faced, and allowing eight hits to help the Cardinals to a 4-1 win on the hottest game day start on record since 1988.
“When you’re playing in heat like that it’s important to keep those calories in you,” Wainwright said. “You’ve got to make sure you are hydrating well.” Waino did that by eating protein bars, but he also credited his good ole standby, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The big question. Grape or strawberry? “Always strawberry on game days,” he said. “Like Tiger wearing red on Sunday.”
Matt Holliday continues his hot hitting. He doubled in a run in the first. Holliday went 3-for-4 and is now 33-for-64 (.516) with four homers and 19 RBI in his last 16 games. His average is up to .319 and he has hit in seven straight games and 15 of his last 17.
Jon Jay was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the second and David Freese added much needed insurance in the eighth when he drove in two more runs with a single scoring Holliday and Carlos Beltran.