By Chris Brown / STL Baseball Today

Update 9/30 @ 3:55pm CT: Adam Wainwright’s first appearance on the mound in game action since April 25 was the only major bright spot in what was an otherwise forgettable afternoon for the Cardinals, who fell to the Pirates 8-2 in the first game of a day/night doubleheader in Pittsburgh.

Coming out of the bullpen for the first time since 2006, Wainwright looked relatively sharp, striking out the first batter he faced on a 94 mph sinker. The 34-year-old threw 15 pitches (12 strikes) over one inning of work, allowing one run on two hits. That run scored on a ground ball off the bat Gregory Polanco which was just out of the reach of second baseman Kolten Wong.

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Original story — Adam Wainwright activated from DL, set to make first relief appearance since 2006

Back in late April, just two days after Adam Wainwright stumbled out of the batters box with a torn left Achilles tendon, general manager John Mozeliak ruled the Cardinals ace out for the season.

“As far as this year goes, he’s done,” the GM said.

Wainwright, though, despite a nine to 12 month recovery timetable, never gave up on stepping back on the field in 2015.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to pitch in October. That’s the deal,” the 34-year-old told MLB.com in early July.

Now, just over five months later (141 games), after months of dedicated rehab, Wainwright was activated from the 60-day disabled list on Wednesday morning and has joined the Cardinals bullpen as the team looks to take a game from Pittsburgh in a day/night doubleheader to clinch their third consecutive NL Central crown.

To clear room for Wainwright on the 40-man roster, the Cardinals placed right-hander Carlos Martinez (out for the year with a right shoulder strain) on the 60-day DL.

“The medical staff kept saying, ‘There’s almost no chance to come back, but let’s keep motivating you,'” Wainwright told MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch on Tuesday. “So that got me thinking there was a chance. And there was. I’m excited. Tomorrow is perfect. It gives me some time to pitch in the ‘pen for the manager and the front office (who have to) make tough decisions. That’s all I can ask for.”

Langosch reports that Wainwright will be available out of the Cardinals bullpen for the remaining five days of the regular season, though the club will not use the right-hander for multiple innings or on back-to-back days.

When Wainwright appears in a game, it will be his first time pitching out of the bullpen since 2006, when the then-rookie struck out 15 batters over 9 2/3 scoreless innings, tallying four saves as the Cardinals closer en route the the team’s tenth World Series Championship.

“I’m just going to go out and be me and compete as hard as I can,” Wainwright told Langosch, “and hope it’s good enough.”

[Related: Cards set for doubleheader in Pittsburgh needing one win to clinch division]

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The @Cardinals will figure it out as they go along, but Waino is ready to “compete as hard as I can.” #STLCardshttps://t.co/SNe3nAyBZA

— FOX Sports Midwest (@FSMidwest) September 30, 2015

(Via @FSMidwest)

 

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