Tossing the equivalent of shutout ball against his teammates into the fifth inning Friday night, 38-year-old Adam Wainwright uncorked 75 pitches, by far the high for anybody in this second Cardinals camp.
“Your eyes did not deceive you,” said manager Mike Shildt after the club’s seventh workout of a scheduled 19 before the season opener on July 24 against Pittsburgh. “He was as good as he looked.
“His changeup was good. His curveball was as good as ever. He was commanding the fastball. Good pace. He was in control.”
Wainwright, who was much better at home than on the road last season when he won 14 games, almost certainly will pitch in that Pirates’ series, which certainly will provide a different experience for Wainwright.