The Astros employed many high-numbered players here as they played most of their regulars against another Cardinals team at the same time in West Palm Beach. But Wainwright nonetheless merited the standing ovation he received from the fans behind the Cardinals’ dugout as he left the game in the sixth, having thrown 63 pitches. Thirty-eight of the first 57 were strikes.
Trotting out his usual wide assortment of offerings, a number of which were in the mid-70s, Wainwright walked only one, struck out five and kept his fastball consistently in the 87 to 89 mile an hour range.