Cards remain 3rd in Wild Card after stalling vs. Lester

CHICAGO — Jon Lester won his National League-leading 19th game and Addison Russell notched his 94th RBI but Sunday night belonged to David Ross, who was greeted by standing ovations every at-bat, and responded with a solo home run, a few tears and a tip of his cap.

Ross and Lester combined to lead the Cubs to a 3-1 victory over the Cardinals to set a franchise record in home wins at Wrigley Field at 57. It also was Chicago’s 99th win overall, tops in the Major Leagues.

St. Louis brought the potential tying run to the plate in the ninth when Aroldis Chapman walked Randal Grichuk with two outs, but the Cubs’ closer fanned Jose Martinez on a 92-mph slider, after three straight fastballs topped 103. The Cardinals (81-74) are still clinging to hope for a postseason berth and remained third in the NL Wild Card standings, 1 1/2 games behind the Mets (83-73) and a half-game behind the Giants (82-74).

Lester struck out seven over 6 2/3 innings to move ahead of teammate Jake Arrieta and the Nationals’ Max Scherzer in wins and remain second in the NL in ERA at 2.28 behind another Cub, Kyle Hendricks. But Ross, who is retiring at season’s end, stole the show. Manager Joe Maddon pulled the veteran with two outs in the seventh, and he was saluted again by the crowd of 40,859 and greeted by hugs from his teammates. Ross could be back behind the plate at Wrigley Field on Oct. 7 when the Cubs begin the NL Division Series against the winner of the Wild Card Game.

Carlos Martinez took the loss, and did so with a heavy heart. The Cardinals right-hander wrote “JF16” on his cap and also “16” on the mound in tribute to Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez, who died early Sunday in a boating accident in Miami.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDGrandpa Rossy: The video scoreboard showed highlights of Ross’ career between innings, and in the second inning before his first at-bat, the crowd gave him a standing ovation. He tipped his helmet but he also struck out. The fans saluted Ross again with one out in the fifth, and this time he delivered his 10th home run of the season. Ross, 39, acknowledged the fans with a curtain call. The Cubs surprised him pregame on Friday with …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com