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Wainwright takes another crack at 16th win against Bucs

Sep 2, 2014 - 2:42 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Adam Wainwright hopes to end his recent struggles when the NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals resume a three-game series versus the Pittsburgh Pirates Tuesday at Busch Stadium.

Wainwright is only 2-4 with a 5.17 earned run average in his last six starts and has failed in his last two attempts for a 16th win this season. Wainwright gave up three runs for a fourth straight outing in last Wednesday's 3-1 loss at Pittsburgh and lasted six innings before getting the hook.

"It has been a grind, and I'll just continue to go out there and battle my tail off until things click back into place," Wainwright said. "It's been a while, and I'm ready to move on. As ugly as it is, and whatever it may look like, I'm still holding us in the game and I know that we're close. This month is over for me. I'm ready to move onto September and build off the few good pitches I did throw."

The right-hander, who is 6-3 in 11 starts at Busch Stadium, owns a 10-6 mark and a 4.19 ERA in 26 career games (22 starts) against the Pirates. Wainwright hasn't pitched well against Pittsburgh this season as evidenced by a 1-2 mark in four appearances, He does, however, have a 1.61 ERA in that time and has allowed five runs across 28 innings.

Wainwright, who is 5-3 in 11 home starts versus the Pirates, is trying to win at least 16 games in a season for the second straight year and fourth time in his career (2009,2010,2013).

Jeff Locke will oppose Wainwright for the Pirates and beat him last week at PNC Park, tossing 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball in that 3-1 triumph. Locke went 4-0 with a 2.90 earned run average in five August starts and improved to 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in four career starts against St. Louis.

Locke has a 2-2 record in seven road starts and is 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA in two career starts at Busch Stadium, where the Cardinals rallied for a 5-4 win Monday. Matt Holliday got the Cardinals on the board with a two-run double in the third inning to pull them within 3-2.

Andrew McCutchen hit a leadoff home run in the seventh to give the Pirates a two-run cushion, but Kolten Wong tied the game on a pinch-hit two-run home run in the bottom half. Holliday later followed in the big seventh inning and ripped an RBI single to put St. Louis ahead for good. Holliday has three or more RBI in each of his last three games (12 total).

The Cardinals, who entered the day tied with Milwaukee for first place in the division, extended their division lead over the Pirates to three games. The Brewers, mired in a six-game slide, are a game back after falling to the Chicago Cubs.

"Whenever you're in first place it means a lot, especially this time of year," said Cardinals starter Lance Lynn, who gave up three runs in six innings. "We're there the first of the month, so hopefully we're be there at the end of the month."

The Cardinals are alone in first place for the first time since July 20 and have won three in a row after losing four straight.

Pittsburgh got its 11-day, 10-game road trip off to a bad start and has lost two in a row after winning four straight and seven of nine games.

Gerrit Cole was recalled from Bristol of the Rookie League and suffered the loss, charged with all five runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings.

"I thought (Cole) pitched a great game," Pirates catcher Russell Martin said.

McCutchen and Josh Harrison each had two hits and two runs scored in defeat.

Pittsburgh still has the Cubs and Philadelphia to visit on this trip, and is 8-9 against the Cardinals this season.