St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Nick Greenwood delivers a pitch to the New York Mets in the sixth inning at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on June 16, 2014. UPI/Bill Greenblatt
Adam Wainwright was scratched from his start in the rotation on Monday as the Cardinals opened a series with the New York Mets at Busch Stadium. The hype was centered around Carlos Martinez making the start, but it was the pitching of rookie Nick Greenwood that left the coaches impressed after the Cardinals 6-2 victory.
“I don’t know that you could ask any more,” manager Mike Matheny said. “Today could have been a really tough day on our bullpen.”
Martinez allowed an unearned run in four innings in his second career start, but it was Greenwood who won his major league debut, giving up a run on two hits in 3.1 innings. He did it with close family and friends in the stands watching…his fiancee, mother, a close friend…oh and of course…his agent.
Matt Holliday had two hits, including a single for his 1,000th career RBI in a four-run fifth that put the Cardinals up 6-1. Not missing a beat since coming off the DL is Matt Adams. He went 2 for 4, including a triple, with two RBIs. Adams is 6 for 15 with six RBIs in his last four games. He is tied for the team lead in triples with three.