When Adam Wainwright made his trip to the plate on Friday night against the Reds, the veteran Cardinals pitcher got the at-bat he long had waited for and lobbied for as his 18-year MLB career nears its end.

But it came with some confusion.

After pinch-hitting for designated hitter Luken Baker to begin the bottom of the sixth inning, Wainwright could have remained in the game as the Cardinals’ DH. Before the start of the seventh, Friday’s umpiring crew met and determined that the Cardinals had lost the DH spot from their lineup with Wainwright’s appearance at DH.

Because of the ruling, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol sought clarity from Major League Baseball on Saturday for future reference.

“To their understanding it was more (that) I can pinch-hit and then hit for him next time around and not have to lose the (DH),” Marmol said. “That’s not the pitcher’s spot, which is not what they said yesterday while we were on the field.”

Wainwright’s pinch-hit appearance for a DH was just the fourth time since 1973 — when the DH was adopted in the American League — that a pitcher hit for a DH.

Wainwright began his at-bat with a swing-and-miss on a 93 mph fastball located high-and-away.

“I just tried to shoot it to right and missed,” Wainwright quipped with a sly grin when he met with reporters on Friday. “No, I had ‘Phillips 66’ in my head only, but it’s very hard to do that on a pitch up and away and then a pitch eight inches off the plate away.”

On the second and final pitch of the at-bat, Wainwright sent a 91 mph cutter to second base for a ground out that left his bat at 102.1 mph, per Statcast.

“His first swing, he definitely wasn’t trying to hit a single, I’ll tell you that,’ Marmol said on Friday. “I just went into the video room as soon as the game ended, and he’s in front of one of the computers analyzing his swing. So that’s ‘Waino’ for you.”

The at-bat was Wainwright’s first since Oct. 6, 2021, during the Cardinals’ National League wild-card game against the Dodgers. An additional at-bat or a few on Sunday, the final day of the season, would give the 42-year-old a chance to get his first hit since Sept. 13, 2021.

“I don’t know,” Wainwright said on the idea of getting more chances to hit. “I’m glad I got one. That was a tremendous blessing, but I’ve never been shy of lobbying.”

On the brink of a night that that was filled with celebration for his former bench coach, Marmol commended Marlins manager Skip Schumaker for the job the first-year manager’s efforts in Miami.

“Proud as heck for him and his staff and what he’s done,” Marmol said. “To go there this year, and for them to do what they’re doing is impressive. He’s led well. The message I sent him yesterday was basically that. To be proud of the work you’ve done over there and to finish well, because it’s been awesome to watch him. It really has.”

Schumaker’s Marlins beat Pittsburgh 7-3 Saturday night to run their record to 84-76 and clinch a wild-card playoff spot in the National League.

This year marks the Marlins’ first time with a record above .500 in a 162-game season since 2009. The trip to the playoffs will be their fourth since the franchise began play in 1993.

Cincinnati’s 19-2 win over the Cardinals on Friday was the Reds’ second-largest win over them since the clubs first faced each other in 1882, according to MLB.com researcher Sarah Langs. The widest margin of defeat the Cardinals have suffered to the Reds was an 18-run loss, in a 19-1 game on Aug. 12, 1882.

The Cardinals, who received their two runs on a two-run homer from Richie Palacios, surrendered six home runs to the Reds on Friday night. The seven combined homers hit by both teams, the 21 combined runs, and one stolen base (which came from Reds outfielder Will Benson) all combined to break Busch Stadium III’s single-season home runs, runs, and stolen bases records.

Cardinals relievers JoJo Romero (irritated left knee tendon) and Wilking Rodriguez (right shoulder) were said to be feeling “good” while they continue to rehab from their respective injuries. Marmol said the two could “go tomorrow if needed” and make a return for the final game of the season, but it may not be needed.

• Before Saturday’s game, Jake Woodford was optioned to the Florida Complex League and James Naile was recalled to the majors as pitching depth for the final two games of the season.