Cardinals cruise past Diamondbacks in 5-2 win

[July 15, 2019]    Adam Wainwright pitched seven scoreless innings, Paul Goldschmidt homered against his former team and the St. Louis Cardinals held on to beat the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks 5-2 in the rubber match of a three-game series on Sunday.

Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (46) rounds the bases after hitting a 2 run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the third inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-USA TODAY Sports

Wainwright, who was pushed back from his scheduled Friday start because of back spasms, controlled the Diamondbacks with his curveball, allowing four hits -- all singles -- and one walk. Wainwright (6-7) struck out seven.

Goldschmidt, a six-time All-Star with Arizona who had been hitless in seven at-bats in the first two games of the series, went 2-for-4. His home run off Zack Greinke (10-4) in the third inning gave the Cardinals a 4-0 lead.

Arizona scored twice in the ninth off John Brebbia, with Domingo Leyba delivering a two-out RBI double and Tim Locastro making it 5-2 by beating out a broken-bat infield single. Closer Carlos Martinez entered and walked Ketel Marte to load the bases.

Martinez then got Eduardo Escobar to fly out to center to earn his fifth save and second in as many days.

Greinke, who entered having not been scored on in 14 consecutive innings, allowed five runs and eight hits in six innings. He struck out six and walked one -- and that free pass started his troubles in the third inning.

He began the frame by walking Wainwright, who later went to third on shortstop Nick Ahmed's throwing error and scored on Yairo Munoz's single. Goldschmidt followed with his 17th home run of the season.

Goldschmidt scored the game's first run after a shattered-bat bloop single to left with two outs in the first inning. He motored home when Tyler O'Neill doubled on a grounder just inside third base.

Matt Carpenter's sacrifice fly in the fourth gave the Cardinals a 5-0 lead.

Dexter Fowler and Kolten Wong each had two hits for St. Louis.

Arizona had a few scoring chances before the ninth but failed to get a key hit. The Diamondbacks left 10 runners on base and were just 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

Marte went 0-for-2 but walked three times. Ahmed and Adam Jones each had two hits, as did Leyba and Locastro.

--Field Level Media

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