DES MOINES, Iowa -- Have yourself a very happy birthday, Adam Wainwright. Taking the Home Run Derby X stage for the first time on his 44th birthday, Waino proved that yeah, pitchers can rake . That it came on his birthday was just a bonus.

When he told his wife about the competition earlier in the summer, she asked him, "Is that what you want to do on your birthday?"

"That's exactly what I want to do on my birthday," Wainwright replied. "Hitting bombs on my birthday."

Wainwright helped lead his Cardinals team, which featured former Cardinals pitcher-turned-slugger Rick Ankiel and reigning NFCA Freshman of the Year Florida softball star Taylor Shumaker to the victory and secured their spot in the Salt Lake City finals on Sept. 19-20.

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