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The Cardinals, who entered Sunday 4 1/2 games behind the
Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres in the race for the second
National League wild card, have lost four of six following a
six-game winning streak.
The Pirates fell to 4-16 this month.
Wainwright (12-7) walked none and struck out nine while going at
least eight scoreless innings for the major league-leading
fourth time and lowering his ERA to 3.10. He has not finished
with an ERA below 3.00 in a full season since 2014.
On Sunday, Wainwright surrendered just a bunt single to Gregory
Polanco in the second and Kevin Newman's double to left with one
out in the fifth. Wainwright retired nine in a row between hits
and the final 11 batters he faced.
Wainwright, who tossed a two-hit shutout against the Pirates on
Aug. 11, is the first pitcher to blank Pittsburgh over at least
seven innings while allowing two or fewer hits in consecutive
starts in the same season.
Tom Seaver, Randy Wolf, Roy Halladay and Jake Arrieta all
allowed two or fewer hits while twirling at least seven
scoreless innings in back-to-back outings against the Pirates,
but they each did so over a two-season span.
Wainwright's longtime batterymate, Yadier Molina, had an RBI
single in the first. Paul Goldschmidt homered in the fifth and
Harrison Bader added a run-scoring single in the eighth.
Molina, Goldschmidt and Lars Nootbaar had two hits apiece.
Alex Reyes wriggled out of trouble in the ninth to earn his 28th
save. Ke'Bryan Hayes and Bryan Reynolds delivered consecutive
two-out singles before Nootbaar made a leaping catch just in
front of the right field wall to rob Colin Moran of a
run-scoring hit.
Steven Brault (0-2) allowed one run on five hits and two walks
while striking out one over four innings.
--Field Level Media
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