This match-up, the first for the Cubs and Cardinals in a playoff setting, is garnering plenty of attention from fans of both teams. Lester is in the first year of a six-year, $155 million contract, the richest in Cubs’ history.
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The victory gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series that raised the stakes in the 123-year rivalry between the clubs, who are facing one another for the first time in a playoff series after 2,363 previous clashes. “There is no secret about it. We prepare and we work really hard to put ourselves in this position”. He has not faced the Cubs since 2012 but has a 2-1 career record against them.
Lackey protected a 1-0 lead by holding the Cubs hitless for five innings, getting help from Kris Bryant’ double-play ball by to end the fourth. But Matt Holliday’s line-drive single up the middle in the first inning was just enough to score Stephen Piscotty from second. Unless I would have gone out there to get kicked out, from the side I saw what you guys saw. The Cubs have played their last nine games on the road. But here is what that first win means: the Cardinals can win this series even if they can’t solve Arrieta in Chicago in Game 3, and they won’t even have to beat Lester again.
“I wasn’t aware of that”, Pham said of the connection to Taveras, who was killed in an off-season automobile crash.
The 17-year veteran, who won a World Series in 2001 with Arizona and lost the one in 2004 with the 105-win Cardinals, said his former team has the edge against the Cubs, based on experience. He gave up a pinch-hit solo home run to Thomas Pham and another to Piscotty, a two-run shot. Finally, after allowing one run, the Cardinals delivered two more runs in the top of the ninth. There will be quite a few Cubs fans in attendance, but the Cardinal faithful will turn out as well.
Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson reacts in the dugout as the Texas Rangers defeated his team in the 14th inning of baseball Game 2 of the American League Division Series in Toronto, Friday, October 9, 2015. Why, take away right fielder Kyle Schwarber’s two hits, and the Cubs batted 1-for-25 (.040) with 10 strikeouts and one walk. A switch to the bullpen didn’t end Chicago’s troubles, as Piscotty jacked a two-run home run two batters later.
“That’s a tough question”, Coghlan said.
Chicago now maintains an impressive 97-65 winning record and finished 3rd in the National League Central Division (after managing to snag the Wild Card over the Pittrburgh Pirates).
“I know everyone was impressed”, Cardinals first baseman/outfielder Randal Grichuk said, “but really, we expect this out of him every night”. The others will get their view of Garcia like Maddon has, from watching on TV and scanning video. He owns a 2.59 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in five starts against St. Louis, including a 1.29 ERA at Busch Stadium.
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He treasures a scorecard his grandmother filled out at a World Series Cubs-Yankees game in 1932.
