Waino aiming at strong finish, postseason run

DENVER — Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright was smiling.

He’s feeling good, finally.

How good?

So good that in the aftermath of picking up the victory in the Cardinals’ win at Coors Field on Tuesday night, he began a campaign.

“I am appealing to the writers out there now to vote for me for [the National League] Silver Slugger [Award],” he said.

Wainwright did, after all, drive in four runs in that game, giving him a season total of 18, 16 of which have come in games he was the pitcher (the other two as a pinch-hitter). That leaves him one RBI shy of Rick Sutcliffe’s 17 in 1979, which is the most by a pitcher since the advent of the DH.

Then he got the news. It is the coaches and managers who cast those Silver Slugger votes, not the writers.

“Well, I don’t need you guys at all,” said Wainwright.

True.

The Cardinals, however, do need Wainwright in their bid to not only claim one of the NL Wild Card berths, but also to advance in the postseason. After an 11-1 loss at Colorado on Wednesday afternoon, they were a half-game back of the Mets and Giants in the battle for the two NL Wild Card spots. The Mets and Giants were both scheduled for night games Wednesday.

Wainwright is, after all, the Cardinals’ elder statesman, having turned 35 three weeks ago, and he is considered their ace.

“He is going to compete every time he’s on the field,” said manager Mike Matheny. “He’s a warrior. He’s the guy the other pitchers come to. He can help them with so many things.”

Most importantly, after Tuesday night, Wainwright is not only the Cardinals’ ace, but he started to feel like an ace on the mound again, something vital for the Cardinals.

It has been a …

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