Game Forty-Three – Cubs 3, Cardinals 4
WP – Trevor Rosenthal (2-1) LP – Adam Warren (3-1) Save – None
The Cubs took a 3-1 lead into the seventh inning. John Lackey served up a two-run pinch hit homer to Matt Adams that tied the game. Randal Grichuk took Adam Warren deep with two outs in the bottom of the ninth as the Cubs lost the opener of the three game series in St. Louis on Monday night.
The Cubs outplayed the Cardinals once again at Busch Stadium but could not put the game away. The Cubs left the Cardinals hanging around and in the end it cost Joe Maddon’s team. For the first time this season, the Cubs have lost three games in a row.
The Cubs tied the game and took the lead in the fourth inning on a single by Miguel Montero (2-for-3 with a walk and a RBI) that plated Ben Zobrist (3-for-4 with a walk and a run scored). Addison Russell (1-for-4 with a RBI) gave the Cubs a 2-1 lead when he grounded into a 6-4 fielder’s choice with the bases loaded that allowed Jorge Soler (0-for-3 with a HBP and a run scored) to score.
Anthony Rizzo (1-for-5 with a RBI) added a RBI single in the fifth. Kris Bryant (0-for-4 with a walk and a run scored) crossed home and gave the Cubs a 3-1 lead. And with the way John Lackey was pitching, it appeared for a couple of innings three runs might be enough.
John Lackey struck out five of the first six batters he faced. Lackey ran into trouble in the third, loaded the bases with one out but gave up just one run. Lackey appeared to be in full control until he hung a curveball on a 2-1 pitch to pinch-hitter Matt Adams in the seventh that tied the game.
John Lackey left after seven innings. Lackey gave up three runs on four hits with a walk, two hit batsmen and nine strikeouts. Lackey made 87 pitches, 58 for strikes.
Adam Warren replaced Lackey and pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning. Warren went back out for the ninth with the game tied at three after the Cubs failed to capitalize with runners on first and third and one out in the top half. Warren struck out Brandon Moss and retired Molina on a grounder to short. Warren hung a slider on a 2-2 pitch to Randal Grichuk that he hit over the center field wall for the game winner, first walk-off homer of his career.
The Cubs outhit the Cardinals 9-5 but were 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base.
The Cardinals got on the board first Monday night. Randal Grichuk led off the third with a single to center off the glove of Ben Zobrist, first hit off John Lackey. Kolten Wong was hit by a pitch. And Lackey was in trouble with two on and no outs. Adam Wainwright bunted Grichuk and Wong up 90 feet.
John Lackey did not get the call on a couple of close pitches to Carpenter. Lackey walked Carpenter to load the bases with one out.
Aledmys Diaz lifted a 1-0 pitch to left. Soler caught the ball but did not make a good throw. Grichuk tagged and scored without a play … 1-0 Cardinals. Lackey reached back and struck out Matt Holliday swinging (1-2 pitch) to end the inning. Lackey did a good job of limiting the damage. At the end of three complete, the Cardinals had a 1-0 lead.
Ben Zobrist led off the fourth with a single to right. Maddon called for a hit and run with Rizzo at the plate. Rizzo grounded out to Matt Carpenter in the shift near the second base bag. Zobrist advanced to second on the play. Wainwright hit Jorge Soler on a 2-2 pitch.
Miguel Montero tied the game with a single to left center (3-2 pitch). Zobrist scored and Soler went to third on the play. Javier Baez loaded the bases on a bunt single. Baez got just enough of the ball to bunt it fair. No one covered first and Baez reached easily.
Addison Russell pulled a 1-1 pitch to the hole at short. Diaz made the pick, but had no chance at a double play. Baez was forced as Soler scored and the Cubs took a 2-1 lead. Lackey rolled out to second base to end the inning.
John Lackey pitched around hitting Stephen Piscotty to start the fourth and a throwing error by Addison Russell. Lackey hung a zero on the board. After four complete, the Cubs had a 2-1 lead.
The Cubs added a run in the fifth. Bryant and Zobrist walked with one out. Anthony Rizzo singled to left on a 2-1 pitch. Bryant scored, 3-1 Cubs. Soler and Montero struck out swinging to end the inning.
John Lackey pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth. Lackey needed only 59 pitches, 40 for strikes, to complete five innings. And the Cubs had a 3-1 lead.
John Lackey took the hill for the bottom of the seventh with a 3-1 lead. Yadier Molina led off the seventh with a single to center. Lackey retired Grichuk on a pop out to second and struck out Wong swinging. Mike Matheny sent up Matt Adams to hit for Seung Hwan Oh. Lackey hung a 2-1 curveball and Adams launched the ball over the wall in center. And just like that the game was tied at three. Lackey struck out Carpenter swinging (3-2 pitch) to end the inning.
The Cubs and Cardinals were tied at three after seven complete. And the score remained 3-3 until the ninth inning.
Dexter Fowler led off the ninth against Trevor Rosenthal with a single to center. Rosenthal got the call on a 3-2 pitch to Bryant for the first out. Ben Zobrist singled to center. Fowler went to third with one out. Anthony Rizzo got jammed on a 1-1 pitch, hit a soft liner toward third that Carpenter caught and tagged the base with his glove to complete the inning ending double play. Fowler started down the line and was easily doubled off.
Adam Warren could not get out of the ninth without serving up the game winner to Randal Grichuk … a solo homer to center on a 2-2 pitch with two outs.
With Monday’s loss, the Cubs dropped to 29-14 on the season.
Jason Hammel gets the ball on Tuesday night (6:10pm CDT) against Michael Wacha in game two of round two with the Cardinals.