Cardinals 7, Athletics 1
Cardinals 7, Athletics 1: Adam Wainwright notched his major league-best fourth complete game with a five-hitter while Matt Adams enjoyed his first career multihomer game as visiting St. Louis cruised past Oakland.
Wainwright (11-5) – who has tossed a major league-high 125 2/3 innings – struck out eight and walked two to snap a two-game slide. The Cardinals’ ace lost his shutout in the eighth inning on Josh Reddick’s RBI single, but was not threatened thereafter.
Adams also set career highs with three runs and four RBIs, including his first two home runs on the road since June 5, 2012. Matt Carpenter, Matt Holliday and Daniel Descalso each drove in a run for St. Louis, which improved to 8-3 all-time against Oakland.
Wainwright and Jarrod Parker were engaged in a pitchers’ duel until the Athletics’ right-hander suffered a right hamstring cramp in the top of the fourth. Parker crumpled to the ground after allowing a two-out double to Allen Craig and was pulled from the game after appearing uncomfortable when he attempted some warmup tosses.
Reliever Jesse Chavez (1-2) was able to get Oakland out of the fourth, but was tagged for two runs in the fifth. Jerry Blevins surrendered Holliday’s RBI single in the sixth while Adams followed with his first home run of the game – a three-run shot – and struck again in the eighth with a solo blast off Pat Neshek.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Since losing his season debut at the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 1, Wainwright is 8-0 with a 2.32 ERA over his next nine road starts. …. Oakland fell to 15-3 over its last 18 home games. … St. Louis has recorded a major league-high six complete games.