CHICAGO (AP) — The gametime temperature was 35 degrees, and a 10 mph wind made it feel even worse. The heaters roared in each dugout, and the announced crowd of 35,103 bundled up in winter coats, hats and blankets.
It was one of the coldest games of Adam Wainwright’s career, but he deftly skated his way to another victory at Wrigley Field.
Wainwright pitched five effective innings, Matt Carpenter drove in three runs and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 5-3 on Tuesday night for their fifth consecutive victory.
The Cubs put at least one runner on in every inning against Wainwright but only managed an unearned run in the fourth. The 6-foot-7 right-hander allowed four hits, struck out five and walked four while improving to 11-2 in 24 career games at Chicago’s iconic neighborhood ballpark.
Carpenter had two hits in the first meeting of the season between the longtime rivals. The Cardinals went 5-14 against the NL Central champion Cubs last year, including just one win in nine games at Wrigley.