Flirting with a no-no

Adam Wainwright carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning and was one out from the St. Louis Cardinals’ second straight one-hitter over the suddenly punchless Colorado Rockies in a 3-0 victory Saturday.

The Rockies had been hitless in 49 consecutive at-bats before Nolan Arenado lined a clean hit to center field with one out in the eighth. Eric Young led off Friday night’s game with a broken-bat single off rookie Shelby Miller then the Rockies failed to put a runner on until Todd Helton walked with one out in the fifth inning a day later.

The 49 at-bats is the longest hitless stretch since Sept. 25-27, 1981, when the Los Angeles Dodgers went 50 at-bats without a knock.

Wainwright doffed his cap in appreciation during a prolonged standing ovation from a sellout crowd of 43,050, then quickly retired the next two hitters.

Wainwright (5-2) gave up a two-out single to Dexter Fowler and matched his career best with a two-hitter.

As a whole, the St. Louis starting staff has a 2.11 ERA, the best in the major leagues.