• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Wainwright, Cards blank Padres

May 23, 2012 - 5:38 AM St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Adam Wainwright allowed just four hits and fired his first shutout in over a year as the Cardinals blanked the Padres, 4-0, in the second installment of a three-game series at Busch Stadium.

Wainwright (3-5) tossed his last shutout on August 6, 2010 against the Marlins before missing all of last season when he underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in February of 2011.

"I think that all of the emotion came from just knowing it's been over a year since I've done that, since I've really felt locked in on the mound like that," remarked Wainwright. "Mentally, on the mound tonight, I was so much better than I have been."

The 30-year-old righty fanned a season-high nine batters on Tuesday and issued just one walk to give the Cardinals their first shutout of the year and second win in as many nights.

Carlos Beltran knocked in two runs and Matt Holliday added two hits, an RBI and a run scored for St. Louis.

Edinson Volquez (2-4) absorbed the loss after yielding three runs on five hits and four walks in six frames. The right-hander recorded one of the Padres' four hits as they fell for the fifth time in their last six tries against St. Louis.

"We had a plan going in," said Padres manager Bud Black about facing Wainwright. "We knew that this guy attacks, he goes at you. But he kept the ball on the corner and he got in on us. We just couldn't generate anything."

The Cardinals got on the board in the first as Matt Carpenter scorched a one- out double, but was in obvious pain as he exited the batter's box. He left the game with tightness on his right side as pinch-runner Daniel Descalso entered.

Descalso quickly moved to third on a groundout before scoring on Beltran's RBI single to left to give St. Louis a 1-0 lead.

Descalso was then hit by a pitch to start the sixth and moved to third on a single from Holliday before scoring on Beltran's fielder's choice to give the Cardinals a two-run edge.

A walk to Yadier Molina then loaded the bases and Tyler Greene made it a 3-0 contest two batters later with a ground out to shortstop.

St. Louis added a run in the seventh as Rafael Furcal walked to start the frame, moved to second on a groundout and came around to score on a double off the bat of Holliday.

Game Notes

Volquez dropped to 1-4 in seven career starts against St. Louis...San Diego left four men on base and went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position...St. Louis finished 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight.