Wainwright uneven in Cardinals' win over Tigers

[March 29, 2012]  JUPITER, Fla. (AP) -- Adam Wainwright struggled for 4 2-3 innings Wednesday in his final tuneup against big league hitters as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Detroit Tigers 9-5.

Wainwright, coming off reconstructive surgery on his right elbow that sidelined him for the entire 2011 season, had pitched 16 innings without allowing an earned run this spring before the Tigers broke through.

Wainwright allowed four runs, three of them earned, on six hits and a walk. His final outing before opening day is expected to be against Cardinals minor leaguers.

Jhonny Peralta broke a scoreless tie with an RBI single in the third. Andy Dirks later hit a two-run single.

[Associated Press]

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