Then in the 4th Starlin Castro had a solo shot of his own to make it 2-2. Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta improved to 2-0 in the postseason despite allowing four runs in 5 2/3 innings. Michael Wacha, probably the weakest of a strong Cardinal rotation going into the postseason, gave up four Cub runs in 4.1 innings before being pulled by manager Mike Matheny.
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Jason Heyward and Stephen Piscotty homered for St. Louis, and Jhonny Peralta had a run-scoring double. Pinch-hitter Brandon Moss followed with a single to right. On Monday, Arrieta gave up five hits while walking two and striking out nine.
ARLINGTON, Texas – Josh Donaldson and Chris Colabello hit home runs before 40-year-old knuckleballer R.A. Dickey threw his first postseason pitch, and the Toronto Blue Jays forced a deciding Game 5 in the AL Division Series with a win over the Texas Rangers on Monday.
Hector Rondon struck out the first two batters of the ninth inning to bring the Wrigley crowd to its feet, and even after Carpenter hit a single to left field, Rondon remained unfazed as he struck out Piscotty to end the game and send the Cubs to the NLCS. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports Kris Bryant broke out of his post-season slump with a 2-run home run on Monday.
As if the fans were roaring at the top of their lungs after that home run, they were really screaming after Schwarber’s monstrous shot leading off the seventh. “No matter if we’re down 2-1 or up 2-1, we feel like he’s the right guy”.
Soler had two more at bats receiving a walk both times, in the 4th inning off reliever Carlos Villanueva and in the 7th inning against Seth Maness. But the Cubs didn’t have quite enough offense as Atlanta forced a Game 5 with a 6-4 victory as Sammy Sosa’s potential game-tying home run came just short in center field.
Javier Baez was penciled in at shortstop to replace Russell for Game 4.
Bryant made it 4-2 in the fifth, connecting on Wacha’s 3-2 pitch for a two-run homer to left.
Asked how significant it was for the fans that the Cubs had finally clinched a postseason series at Wrigley Field, Rizzo replied: “They deserve it. They deserve it. Hopefully this is just a taste of what’s going to come”.
Chicago Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo (44) hits a home run against the St…
Jason Hammel, who will pitch in a potential series clincher for the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, knows what it is like to work big games.
Travis d’Arnaud also homered as the Mets set a franchise postseason record for runs in their first playoff game at Citi Field. They have a chance to close out the series at home, although it won’t be an easy task against a St. Louis Cardinals’ team that is playing for their season.
“We totally expect that out of the Cardinals…”
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Maddon felt his team had become energized following their 4-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates last week in the wild card game.
