Wainwright tunes up for season opener

JUPITER, Fla. -- Next up for Adam Wainwright is opening night in Chicago. The right-hander proved he is ready to go by pitching into the seventh inning in St. Louis' 3-2 loss to the Miami Marlins on Tuesday.

Wainwright allowed two runs and eight hits while throwing 93 pitches over 6 2/3 innings. The ace was slowed by an abdominal injury early in spring training, raising questions about whether he would be ready to pitch in that first game against the Cubs.

"We know what he does on the big stage and how he rises to the occasion for big opportunities -- and opening day is a big opportunity," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said.

The majors' first game of the regular season will be Wainwright's third consecutive opening start and No. 4 overall.

"It's just really a validation for the work that you put in," Wainwright said. "The years that I've been here and saw [Chris Carpenter] do it and see the number of times that Bob Gibson did that, each time I get to do it is just a very special thing. It's an assignment that they don't hand out lightly."

Wainwright allowed the leadoff batter to reach in each of the first five innings against Miami. But he also induced four double-play grounders.

Ichiro Suzuki went 2 for 2 and drove in a run for Miami. He also made a sliding catch in center field.

Henderson Alvarez, who will start on opening day for the Marlins, allowed one run and six hits in six innings.

Starting time

• Newly named fifth starter Carlos Martinez will make his final start of the spring when St. Louis takes on the Mets today.

Making the team

• The Cardinals announced that Grichuk and infielder Pete Kozma had made the opening-day roster. Along with Jon Jay and Peter Bourjos, Grichuk gives the Cardinals three options for center field.

The addition of Kozma and Grichuk means that when the Cardinals employ their expected opening-day lineup, all five bench players will be right-handed bats. Catcher Tony Cruz, first baseman Mark Reynolds and Bourjos round out the bench.