MILWAUKEE _ The gift was belated, but welcome nonetheless.
Three innings after Cardinals starter and birthday boy Adam Wainwright offered his best start of the month _ a reset switch on a difficult stretch _ his teammates reclaimed to give them, not him, a win Tuesday at Miller Park. The Cardinals' first at-bat with a runner in scoring position came in the 10th inning and Randal Grichuk roped a single to put the Cardinals ahead for a 2-1 victory against Milwaukee.
The Cardinals had opportunities to extend their lead with no outs and a runner at third base. Four consecutive batters failed to bring that run in and left the bullpen, starting with rookie Matt Bowman, no margin for error. Bowman walked the first two batters he faced and brought everybody, including manager Mike Matheny to the mound, to settle him. Bowman struck out pinch-hitter Domingo Santana to pivot the inning back the Cardinals way.
Zach Duke completed the save with the tying run stranded at third
On his 35th birthday, Wainwright pitched seven innings and allowed one run while striking out seven batters. He did not give a gift on his birthday _ no walks. The Cardinals' veteran starter allowed fewer than two earned runs in a start for the first time since his shutout against Miami on July 16. The three hits he allowed was the fewest since that shutout as well. The lineup just didn't do anything but provide a solo homer while Wainwright was in the game.
In the ninth inning, the Brewers got the potential winning run to third base against Cardinals closer Seung Hwan Oh. With two outs, back-to-back hits, got Ryan Braun to third base and Chris Carter to the plate. A base hit would win the game. Oh seemed to catch Carter looking at a strike three, but home-plate umpire Joe West disagreed. Oh tried again with a 93-mph fastball over the plate, and Carter took the call out of West's hands.
He swung and missed to end the inning.
