Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright and catcher Yadier Molina made their 325th career start together Wednesday night, setting a major league record for most as a battery.
The St. Louis duo eclipsed the regular-season mark of 324 by the Detroit Tigers pair of Mickey Lolich and Bill Freehan from 1963-1975.
“It’s probably cooler for me than Yadi,” Wainwright said after the Cards’ 4-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. “He has so many cool things. Next to the Roberto Clemente award, this is probably the coolest thing of my career.”
Added Molina: “Such a great feeling, just to reach that number. To be at the top of that list. Such a great feeling.”
Wainwright and Molina received a standing ovation from the crowd at Busch Stadium as they walked from the bullpen to the dugout before the game.
“It was a lot to manage, early on,” Wainwright said. “The crowd was so awesome, making me get constant chills and tearing up. Was trying to manage my adrenaline because it wanted to go through the roof.”
Wainwright allowed one run in five innings with three strikeouts, and Molina went 1-for-4 with an RBI. The veteran righty escaped a first-inning jam, allowing his only run of the game.
“I thought, ‘I’m getting out of this because we’re supposed to win today,'” Wainwright said. “Usually I feel like I’m going to get out of it anyways, but I really felt like I’m getting out of this because we’re supposed to win today, and we did.”
The next active pair behind Wainwright and Molina is the Chicago Cubs battery of Kyle Hendricks and Willson Contreras, who have 105 starts together.
“A lot has taken place in that time span, and that’s why I think this record is pretty darn cool,” St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol said before the game. “I don’t see anyone coming close to ever reaching it again.”
Towels with the No. 325 were given out to fans as they entered the ballpark on Wednesday.