“The sooner, the better, so that we can make our appropriate plans going forward and really set things up to make our best push”.
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NY has won eight of 10 and is a half-game ahead of St. Louis for the second NL wild card.
With one out in the seventh, Ramos hit his 21st home run deep over the center-field wall on the first pitch from Fernando Salas (0-1).
“We had guys on base all night”, manager Joe Maddon lamented of the loss. “We were out of the zone”. “He elevated a changeup for me and I got it far enough out there to give us a run”. Prior to this year, their last losing season at home occurred in 1999.
“I’m just trying to give a good at-bat”, Lester said.
“Today was one of those days were he had both (pitches) working and he wasn’t missing over the middle and he was even throwing some curveballs and changeups to keep you off of everything”, Moss said. Rizzo struck out in his first two at-bats against Cardinals ace Carlos Martinez, but he led off the top of the sixth with a solo bomb to right field off the 24-year-old right-hander and added a two-run shot in the ninth against Michael Wacha.
“Seems like every time I give up a run it leaves the yard”, Hammel said. “I’ve been through tough times before and I’ll continue to fight”.
Cardinals outfielder Brandon Moss called Lester one of the best in the game. Jorge Polanco supplied a two-run homer and a two-run single for the Twins, who kept Detroit six games behind the AL Central-leading Indians. Diaz started for the first time since July 31, when the All-Star shortstop broke his thumb. Kevin Siegrist got his second save. Chicago’s magic number to clinch the National League Central is now down to one.
“It’s going to happen, it’s a matter of when”, Fowler said.
Cardinals: INF Matt Carpenter was in the starting lineup after leaving Monday’s game with back tightness. He has missed 46 games with shoulder inflammation. Cardinals RHP Trevor Rosenthal (right shoulder inflammation) threw live batting practice Tuesday and could be activated later this week. He has been out since August 9 with shoulder inflammation.
The Cubs begin their Wrigley Field slate the next day against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the start of a season-opening 10-day, nine-game homestand against the Dodgers ( April 10, 12-13 ), Pittsburgh Pirates ( April 14-16 ) and Milwaukee Brewers ( April 17-19 ). One retired Kolten Wong on a comebacker to end the eighth inning; Lester simply ran all the way to first base with the ball.
Martinez started off strong, striking out the side in the first and four of the first six batters he faced.
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Addison Russell’s double down the left field line plated Ben Zobrist in the second for a two-run lead that looked like it would increase, until Matheny deemed it an emergency and Reyes showed up to douse a potential inferno.
