Jake Arrieta allowed three hits over seven innings and Starlin Castro had a go-ahead RBI single in a two-run seventh inning, leading the Chicago Cubs over the St. Louis Cardinals 2-0 Wednesday for their first win this season.
Backed by just two hits from Chicago's offense, Arrieta (1-0) struck out seven and walked three. He was 10-5 with a 2.53 ERA in a breakout 2014 and improved to 3-0 with a 0.74 ERA in six career starts against St. Louis.
Phil Coke, Neil Ramirez, Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon combined for hitless relief. Rendon pitched a perfect ninth for his first save with the Cubs, who lost 3-0 to St. Louis on Sunday night's opener.
Lance Lynn (0-1) struck out nine in six-plus innings, allowing both runs — one earned — and two hits. Castro's single chased him in the seventh, and Miguel Montero hit a sacrifice fly off Kevin Siegrist.
Both teams again struggled to score at a cool and damp Wrigley Field.
Anthony Rizzo was hit by a pitch leading off the seventh and advanced when Lynn's pickoff throw was wide of Matt Adams at first for an error. Castro singled, ending the Cubs' 15-inning scoreless streak at the start of the season, and took second on the throw.
Siegrist relieved, Chris Coghlan sacrificed and Montero's flyout drove in the second run.
Chicago Baseball
St. Louis drew two walks in the first but the inning ended when Jhonny Peralta took a called third strike. Adams stranded two runners when he struck out ending the third.
Lynn retired his first 10 batters before Jorge Soler tripled with one out ain the fourth and Rizzo walked. Castro struck out and Coghlan lined out to center.
Adams walked with two outs in the sixth, and Peralta doubled down the left-field line. But Jon Jay grounded the next pitch back to Arrieta.
