Adam Wainwright throws a simulated game on Wednesday.

Adam Wainwright throws a simulated game on Wednesday.

Adam Wainwright, less than five months after undergoing surgery for a torn Achilles’ tendon that was expected to sideline him for 9-12 months, moved closer to a return after throwing a 25-pitch simulated game against Randal Grichuk, Matt Adams, Pete Kozma and Jon Jay.

“To be honest, I couldn’t have been any happier,” manager Mike Matheny said afterwards. “What we have to do is also be realistic that that doesn’t translate into an inning tonight. What it means is he got one step closer to being ready to get out there and hopefully have a little bit more movement on the mound and that will put him one step closer to being out here for real. No sense in not being excited about a guy coming back when nobody thought he would.”

Results were secondary, as Adams crushed a towering homer off Wainwright in his one inning.  The next step is to get Wainwright back in a simulated game and activate him on the roster for a couple of appearances next week.  That will help determine his use on the playoff roster.

Following his simulated game, Wainwright spoke.