Taylor And Chapman Back Mengden As A's Beat Cardinals 2-0
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Beau Taylor and Matt Chapman homered, and Daniel Mengden pitched six scoreless innings to lead the Oakland Athletics to a 2-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night.
Mengden (2-1) gave up four hits and struck out five for his first win since May 18 at Detroit. He took the starting rotation spot of Frankie Montas, who was suspended 80 games June 21 for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.
Yusmeiro Petit pitched the seventh, Joakim Soria the eighth and Liam Hendriks got the last three outs for his second save in four chances. Hendriks has not allowed a run in 23 of his last 25 appearances.
Oakland got its fifth shutout of the season — first on the road — and first since May 7 against Cincinnati.
Adam Wainwright (5-7) allowed two runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings with nine strikeouts.
St. Louis was shutout for the sixth time this season, and the third time in its last 14 games.
Taylor homered into the Cardinals' bullpen in right-center field in the fourth inning. It was his second home run in seven starts.
Chapman chased Wainwright from the game when he got his team-leading 19th homer into the Athletics' bullpen in left-center.
NUMERO UNO
Soria extended his record for most games by a Mexican-born pitcher to 675 a night after he passed Dennys Reyes to move into sole possession of the top spot. The team celebrated his accomplishment pregame.
LORD STANLEY IN THE HOUSE
The Stanley Cup Champion St. Louis Blues were honored in a pregame ceremony. Head coach Craig Berube and assistants Sean Ferrell, Mike Van Ryn and Steve Ott were on hand. Alex Pietrangelo, Pat Maroon, and Ryan O'Reilly paraded around the field with the Stanley Cup and visited with the Cardinals before the game.
BUSCH STADIUM ICON
Wainwright's start was the 300th of his career and his 184th game at the current Busch Stadium to tie Trevor Rosenthal for the stadium appearance record.
HICKS ON THE MEND
Cardinals RHP Jordan Hicks underwent successful Tommy John surgery to repair his torn ulnar collateral ligament. Cardinals general manager Michael Girsch said it is too early to put a specific timetable on Hicks' return. Hicks was 2-2 with a 3.14 ERA and a team-leading 14 saves in 29 appearances this season.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Athletics: RHP J.B. Wendelken was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas after earning his first career win Tuesday night to make room for Mengden.
Cardinals: RHP Mike Mayers (right lat strain) and Ryan Helsley (right shoulder impingement) each made rehabilitation appearances for Triple-A Memphis. Mayers tossed a scoreless inning, and Helsley did not record an out allowing three walks and one hit against Nashville.
UP NEXT
Athletics: RHP Tanner Anderson (0-2, 4.30) will make his fourth career start as he opposes RHP Griffin Canning when Oakland opens a four-game series at the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night.
Cardinals: Have not announced a starting pitcher as they face the San Diego Padres and LHP Eric Lauer (5-7, 4.32) Friday night to open a nine-game road trip.
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