ST. LOUIS (AP) — Matt Adams had three hits, including a tiebreaking, two-run homer, and the St. Louis Cardinals overcame a short outing by Tim Cooney in his major league debut to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 9-3 Thursday for their third straight win. Cooney, a 24-year-old left-hander brought up from Triple-A Memphis before the game, was given a 3-0 lead but lasted 2 1-3 innings, allowing three runs and seven hits.

Carlos Villanueva (2-1) followed and retired all 10 batters he faced. The Cardinals bullpen retired 19 of 21 batters during 6 1-3 innings of one-hit relief. With the score 3-3 in the third, Adams hit a two-run homer off David Buchanan (0-5), who became the first Philadelphia pitcher to lose his first five starts in a season since Kyle Abbott in 1992.

Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright has had surgery to repair a torn left Achilles tendon, an injury that will sideline him for the rest of the season. “Everything went well,” Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said after Thursday’s operation. “No surprises, which was probably the best news, and didn’t have to use any extra material to reattach the tendon. So now it’s rest and recovery for probably the next 6 to 8 weeks.” Wainwright was injured while batting in Milwaukee last Saturday.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs selected cornerback Marcus Peters with the No. 18 pick in the NFL draft Thursday night, taking a chance on a player kicked off the team at Washington in an attempt to help their defense in the pass-happy AFC West. The physical Peters was considered one of the top defensive backs in the draft, but he gave many teams pause after his dismissal last November.

Peters said at the annual scouting combine that it was “miscommunication, mostly on my behalf” with new Huskies coach Chris Petersen’s staff that led to the problems. Peters acknowledged that he “didn’t take the coaching transition too well.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A group of Iowa investors with a couple of third-place finishes in the Kentucky Derby is trying again this year. Donegal Racing, a stable backed by 22 investors mostly from the Des Moines area, not only has a horse running in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby but is fielding competitors in three major races at Churchill Downs this week.

Donegal Racing President Jerry Crawford says it’s only the second time in the 140-year history of the Derby that one stable has entries in three major Derby week races. Donegal has Puca in the $1 million Kentucky Oaks on Friday, Finnegan’s Wake in the $500,000 Woodford Reserve on Saturday and Keen Ice in the Kentucky Derby Saturday evening.

Crawford acknowledges Keen Ice is a long shot. Betting odds are currently at 50-to-one.

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — The Washington Redskins have taken Iowa offensive lineman Brandon Scherff with the Number 5 pick in the first round of the NFL draft. The choice Thursday night addresses one of Washington’s many needs — improving the right side of the Redskins’ offensive line. Scherff, listed at 6-foot-5 and about 320 pounds, is new general manager Scot McCloughan’s first draft pick for Washington.

This was also the first time the Redskins had drafted in the first round since using the Number 2 overall selection in 2012 to get quarterback Robert Griffin the Third. That pick was obtained in a trade with the St. Louis Rams that cost the Redskins a bevy of choices, including first-rounders in 2013 and 2014.

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Left-hander Tim Cooney has been brought up from the minor leagues by the St. Louis Cardinals to start against Philadelphia in his major league debut. Cooney’s contract was selected from Triple-A Memphis before today’s (Thursday’s) game.

The Cardinals optioned catcher Cody Stanley to Memphis and opened a spot on their 40-man roster by transferring pitcher Adam Wainwright from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL. Cooney, 24, was 2-1 with a 3.63 ERA in three starts at Memphis.

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast w/Jim Field.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.6MB)

Subscribe: RSS

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Peter Bourjos hit a game-tying RBI triple, then scored the go-ahead run by beating the throw home on an infield tapper to fuel a four-run fifth inning in the St. Louis Cardinals’ 5-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night. Carlos Martinez (3-0) allowed two runs in six innings and Matt Adams doubled twice with an RBI.

Ryan Howard hit his 20th career homer against St. Louis, 11 coming in his hometown, and Odubel Herrera had two hits and an RBI. Aaron Harang (2-2) surrendered five runs in six innings, ending a career-best run of eight consecutive quality starts dating to last September. Bourjos entered 7 for 15 against Harang with a homer and four RBIs, no doubt factoring into his second start considering he was just 1 for 10 on the season.