Wainwright still hasn't issued a walk

PHILADELPHIA -- What 29-inning streak without a walk, says Adam Wainwright? He playfully holds his ears and hums a tune.

But only two more outs and Pea Ridge Day, who recorded the second-longest such streak to start a season -- 29 2/3 innings -- for the 1925 Cardinals, becomes yesterday's news. And the way Wainwright is dealing, he has better than just a fat chance of surpassing the Cardinals' all-time record holder for innings without a walk (40), Slim Sallee, on the 100-year anniversary of that feat in 1913.

"I know this is going on," said Wainwright seriously. "I am being deliberate about it, that's kind of my intention going out.

"[But] if I am getting three-ball counts, I'm not casting heaters down the middle. Couple times [in Thursday night's 4-3 victory over the Phillies], I threw a couple curveballs and the game before that I threw curveballs. [Thursday] I threw a cutter in on [Jimmy] Rollins 3-2. Just because I'm not walking anybody doesn't mean I am not still pitching. At no point in time do I not think I am not going to make the next pitch.

Ben Revere worked a 3-0 count before being retired by Wainwright on a 3-1 cutter. He also threw a cutter to induce a Rollins groundout on a 3-2 pitch.

Wainwright walked 52 batters last season, his first back from Tommy John surgery, when, typically, pitchers struggle with command.

"He is locating that fastball very well," said manager Mike Matheny. "A couple years after that surgery is pretty much par for the course.

For the record, Day went 2-4 with a 6.30 ERA for the 1925 Cardinals. Sallee was 19-15 with a 2.71 ERA in 1913.