Taking the mound at Hammons Field for the first time since 2008, St. Louis Cardinals veteran Adam Wainwright looked sharp in his rehab appearance Monday afternoon in front of over 6,000 fans.
The 147-game MLB winner went 5 innings, allowing just 2 hits, both in the 4th inning, while striking out a pair.
Wainwright took a step closer to rejoining the big club, but said he enjoyed his stopover in the Ozarks.
“It’s great to be back out there,” said Wainwright. It’s always great to pitch in this ballpark, except that it’s a rehab assignment. This is one of the best Minor League parks I’ve seen. The fans are always great here.”
As for the game, Springfield’s six runs and seven hits Monday gives the team 33 runs on 45 hits over the current four-game winning streak; beat Tulsa 6-2, to extend their Texas League North first place lead.
Ramon Urias gave Wainwright a 1-0 lead when he drove in Randy Arozarena on a first-inning single.
The Cardinals padded that lead in the second when Victor Roache scored off a Thomas Spitz sacrifice fly to center.
After three more scoreless frames from Wainwright, Tommy Edman pushed Springfield’s advantage to 4-0 with a two-run double in the fifth.
A ground-rule double by Chris Chinea scored Roache in the bottom half of the sixth. A batter later, a throwing error allowed Spitz to reach and Chinea to score, giving Springfield a 6-1 lead. Chinea doubled twice in the win.
Tulsa’s first run came courtesy of D.J. Peters, who came around and scored on Connor Joe’s sixth-inning double with Connor Jones on in relief. It was Jones’ first appearance since April 15 after recently returning from the DL.
The Drillers added a run in the ninth when Drew Jackson scampered home after an Estarlin Arias wild pitch.
