St. Louis

Cubs Beat Cardinals 6-3, Tie NLDS at 1-1

The Chicago Cubs got a home run from Jorge Soler and five second inning runs en route to a 6-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday night. 

The win ties the National League Division Series at a game apiece, with Game 3 set to take place at Wrigley Field on Monday. 

The Cubs had an opportunity to jump out to an early lead over the Cardinals after Jorge Soler ripped a double down the left field line, but they stranded him despite having the heart of their order up. Kris Bryant struck out looking for the second out, and Anthony Rizzo struck out swinging to end the inning.

The Cardinals quickly took advantage of the situation as Matt Carpenter led off the bottom of the first with a deep home run to center field off of Kyle Hendricks. The Cubs’ hurler did settle down a bit, but a couple of loud outs by Matt Holliday and Jason Heyward didn’t exactly soothe frayed nerves.

Fortunately for Chicago, Jaime Garcia was in a giving mood, and the Cubs racked up an incredible five unearned runs to seize a commanding lead. After Austin Jackson stole third base, he scored on a safety squeeze by Hendricks to tie the game at 1-1. Miguel Montero then scored on another squeeze bunt by Addison Russell, and Hendricks scored when a chopper by Dexter Fowler couldn’t be handled by Jhonny Peralta.

Finally, Soler finished off the rally with a bang as he blasted a home run over the center field fence to make it a 5-1 lead for the Cubs.

After the Cardinals were retired in order in the bottom of the second, the Cubs tacked onto their lead in the top of the third. Rizzo led off the inning with a walk, and he advanced to third on a hit-and-run as Starlin Castro slapped a single to right field. After a strikeout by Jackson, Rizzo was able to score on an RBI groundout by Montero to make it a 6-1 ballgame.

The game proceeded without drama until the bottom of the fifth inning. Hendricks struck out Brandon Moss and Yadier Molina to start off the frame, but Kolten Wong wasn’t willing to go down without a fight as he launched a home run into the Cardinals’ bullpen to make it a 6-2 game. Randall Grichuk then unloaded on a Hendricks pitch and blasted it into the left field bleachers to make it 6-3.

Travis Wood came into the game to relieve Hendricks, and on a 3-2 pitch he struck out Carpenter swinging to keep the Cubs in front by three runs.

The Cubs had a scoring opportunity in the seventh inning with runners on first and third, but they let it slip through their fingers. First Rizzo lined out to third base for the second out, and then Castro was robbed by a fantastic play from Wong at second base to keep the Cubs’ lead at three runs.

Wood continued his strong pitching performance in the bottom of the frame, inducing fly ball outs from Jhonny Peralta and Mark Reynolds for the first two outs. Molina did rip a single into right field, but a Wong line drive was snared by Fowler to end the frame without any damage being done.

The Cubs went down in order in the top of the eighth inning, but the Cardinals were held at bay in the bottom of the frame by Trevor Cahill. After a first pitch groundout, Cahill struck out Carpenter and Piscotty to maintain the Cubs’ advantage.

The Cubs couldn't add any insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning, but Hector Rondon didn't need them. He induced two groundouts to end the game and send the Cubs home with a tied series. 

Jake Arrieta will take the hill for the Cubs on Monday night when they face the Cardinals in Game 3 of the series at Wrigley Field. Michael Wacha will be on the hill for the Cardinals. 

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