ST. LOUIS — When St. Louis Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright failed to make it out of the fifth inning for his second straight postseason start Saturday night, losing Game 1 of the National League Championship Series 3-0 to San Francisco, speculation started as to whether he would start a possible Game 5 on Thursday night.
During his pregame press conference Sunday, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny pounced on the subject as though it were a breaking ball that he had to block to keep a runner at third.
“This is our ace,” Matheny said. “We’re not here now if we don’t have him. When he feels right, we want him on the mound as much as anybody in the game. He was very adamant that this is the best he’s felt after a start in a long time.”
After absorbing an 11-hit, six-run pounding in the first game of the NLDS Oct. 3 at the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wainwright admitted to some “arm fatigue.” Saturday night’s start didn’t look much better as Wainwright’s fastball accuracy waned after a strong first inning. He required 98 pitches to get through 4 2/3 innings.
One columnist opined Sunday that St. Louis was starting the series at an 0-2 disadvantage with Wainwright matched up against Giants ace Madison Bumgarner.
Matheny clearly doesn’t feel that way, not after watching Wainwright post his second 20-win season with a 2.38 ERA.
“He was excited for the fact that his arm felt as good as it felt,” Matheny said. “I can’t wait to watch him pitch again.”
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BOCHY THANKS SABEAN: Gunning for its third World Series in five years, San Francisco got critical contributions from unheralded players in that span.
In 2010, it was outfielder Cody Ross coming off the scrap heap to produce key hits. Two years ago, second baseman Marco Scutaro became a hitting machine in the postseason. This year, left fielder Travis Ishikawa delivered timely hits and surprisingly good defense.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy said general manager Brian Sabean deserves the credit for acquiring those players, as well as others such as outfielders Aubrey Huff and Pat Burrell, who came up big in 2010.
“I can’t say really enough how Brian has found a way to fill some holes for us that we needed,” Bochy said. “So many names … it doesn’t happen unless you have the tools or resources and Brian does that for us.”
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NOTES: Going into Sunday night’s game, the Cardinals scored just one run in their last four NLCS games against San Francisco, dating back to 2012. … Former St. Louis OF Jim Edmonds, whose walk-off homer in Game 6 of the 2004 NLCS enabled the Cardinals to force a Game 7 against Houston, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. … By winning Game 1, the Giants put themselves in good position to win the NLCS. Game 1 winners are 10-4 since 2000.