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Cards drop 11-inning opener vs. red-hot Cubs
- Updated: August 12, 2016
CHICAGO — Anthony Rizzo drew a walk-off walk with the bases loaded and two outs in the 11th to drive in the game-winning run and lift the Cubs to a 4-3 victory Thursday night over the Cardinals in front of 40,597 at Wrigley Field. For the first time since 1908, the Cubs have opened the month of August with a 9-0 record. And that year, as most Cubs fans know, was the last time the franchise won the World Series.
The Cubs now have a 13-game lead over the Cardinals in the Central Division, and a 10-game winning streak, the first since a 12-game run from May 19-June 2, 2001.
With the game tied at 3 in the 11th, rookie Willson Contreras singled off Zach Duke, and pinch-hitter Jorge Soler reached on an infield single. One out later, Dexter Fowler walked to load the bases and one out later, Rizzo drew a walk for the game-winner.
The Cardinals loaded the bases in the top of the 11th against Mike Montgomery, but he struck out Matt Carpenter and picked up the win in relief.
Aroldis Chapman retired the Cardinals on three pitches in the ninth, with some help from third baseman Javier Baez, who caught back-to-back line drives by Jedd Gyorko and Greg Garcia.
The Cubs tied the score at 2 in the sixth on a strange two-run single by Chris Coghlan, who had tried to call time before the pitch from Carlos Martinez, but it wasn’t granted. Coghlan lined the ball to right, and David Ross added a bunt single to take a 3-2 lead. But Randal Grichuk came off the bench to hit a solo homer with two outs in the seventh, the 13th pinch-hit blast this season by the Cardinals, to make it 3-3.
With both bullpens depleted, both managers will be looking for deep starts from Friday starters, St. Louis ace Adam Wainwright and reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta for Chicago.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Time out: Kris Bryant and Rizzo both singled to open the Chicago sixth, only the third and fourth hits off Martinez at that point. Martinez struck out Ben Zobrist, and first baseman Carpenter made a nice catch of Addison Russell’s popup near the Cardinals’ …
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