Adam Wainwright Shines on His Birthday at HRDX: Des Moines
DES MOINES, Iowa — Adam Wainwright celebrated his 44th birthday by stepping onto the Home Run Derby X stage for the first time, demonstrating that pitchers can indeed hit. The occasion of it being his birthday was just an added bonus.
Reflecting on past performances, Wainwright shared, “You should check my career statistics on my birthday. I hit well and pitched well on my birthday. I love playing on birthdays.” Indeed, his statistics support this claim: he boasts a 2-0 record and a 1.50 ERA on his special day, alongside a 1-for-5 batting record, including a double.
Adding to his list of birthday accomplishments, Wainwright was awarded the HRDX MVP. He remarked, “It was really fun. Great teamwork from Rick and Taylor helped us pull through. Everyone was working together.” His teammates also shined, with Taylor and Ank delivering strong performances.
The Cardinals faced off against their rivals, the Chicago Cubs, drawing a sizable crowd at Principal Park. Wainwright led the Cardinals, racking up an impressive 21 points through 13 home runs, giving them an early advantage. Despite Ben Zobrist’s strong showing for the Cubs with 16 points, the Cardinals secured a 58-53 victory, thanks in part to stellar defense and Wainwright’s impressive play.
The finals saw Wainwright’s Cardinals compete against the Yankees, featuring notable players like Nick Swisher and Jocelyn Alo. Wainwright again led off with 20 points from 12 home runs. Swisher responded with a spectacular 15 home runs, concluding his round with an impressive bat flip that thrilled the crowd.
As the competition heated up, Ankiel raised the stakes by contributing 21 points in his round, keeping the Cardinals ahead. Alo made a swift start, narrowing the gap for the Yankees, but ultimately, they fell just short with a final score of 68-67. Swisher expressed disappointment at the near-win, admitting he felt pressure to perform for his team.
Looking ahead, Home Run Derby X plans to head to Kansas City, where teams will have one last chance to qualify for the finals in Salt Lake City. As Swisher aims for redemption in the upcoming events, he highlighted Alo’s incredible talent, emphasizing her importance to the team’s success.
