San Diego – It’s a classic story: the understudy steps in for the ailing lead actor and becomes a star.
Lou Gehrig did it for the Yankees, stepping in for Wally Pipp at first base and beginning his streak of 2,130 consecutive games played. Quarterback Tom Brady did it for the New England Patriots in 2001, replacing the injured Drew Bledsoe and guiding the Patriots to a Super Bowl title.
Could St. Louis Cardinals rookie closer Adam Wainwright be next?
OK, it’s too early to predict a schmaltzy Hollywood ending, but Wainwright played the part Tuesday in the Cardinals’ 5-1 victory over the San Diego Padres in Game 1 of the National League divisional series. The rookie coolly dispatched the four batters he faced, striking out Russell Branyan and Mike Cameron in the ninth.
After 5 1/2 years in the minor leagues, Wainwright got his big- league shot with the Cards this season. Although he’s looking to be a starter next year, he was thrust into the closer’s role when Jason Isringhausen went down with a hip injury late in the season. Wainwright has three saves for St. Louis, two of them in his late-season role as closer. Most important, he has proven to himself that he belongs.
“I got called up late last season and that was kind of an awakening for me. I realized if I’m playing like I should, I can play up here,” he said Wednesday. “This offseason, I drilled that into my mind. And every pitch I threw in bullpen sessions in spring training I believed would be the right pitch, the good pitch, and was going to have good stuff behind it.”
Wednesday, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa gave Wainwright a verbal pat on the back.
“I feel very good about him, because ever since he started getting attention in spring training, and every time we increased his responsibility, he’s responded exactly the same,” La Russa said. “And when you are talking about the bullpen, you are talking about the height of responsibility. I like what I’ve seen, he’s ready to go.”
Of course, Wainwright has only gotten a small taste of postseason pressure. The true test will come if the Cardinals move deeper into the playoffs.
“I think the regular season is a bit of a different animal than the regular season,” said Padres closer Trevor Hoffman, baseball’s all-time saves leader. “But I think when you are aggressive, like he looked, and you’re confident in your stuff, that goes a long way.”
