Hammel nails Cards with hand from Heyward

ST. LOUIS — Once again, Jason Hammel helped himself, hitting a two-run single as well as striking out six over six innings to lift the Cubs to a 2-1 victory over the Cardinals on Tuesday night. Chicago is the first team to 11 wins this season, and is off to its best start since going 11-3 in 1970.

Hammel, who hit an RBI double in his last start, delivered the key hit in the fourth, and now has more RBIs (three) than runs allowed (two) for the season. The right-hander got a big assist from Jason Heyward in the bottom of the fourth. The Cardinals had runners at second and third with one out, and Yadier Molina flied out to right. Matt Holliday tried to score, but Heyward threw a perfect strike home to get him and end the inning.

St. Louis starter Jaime Garcia, making his first start since throwing a one-hit shutout against the Brewers, struck out seven over five innings. The Cardinals’ only run came on a rare Molina RBI triple in the second.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDPitchers can hit, too: Last season, Cubs manager Joe Maddon often batted the pitcher eighth. He may want to consider moving the pitcher up. The Cubs loaded the bases with one out in the fourth after Jorge Soler walked …

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