It was just the second big league start of the season for the 24-year-old lefty, who was called up from the minor leagues on June 24. Between delays, the Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the first as shortstop Jhonny Peralta doubled down the left-field line to score second baseman Kolten Wong. “Unfortunately it took him a lot of pitches to get there and it limited how far he could go”.
Advertisement
Hunter started the scoring with a solo home run in the first inning, providing early run support for Phil Hughes, who allowed four runs (two earned) in 6 2/3 innings. Cardinals starter Lance Lynn was terrific for six innings, allowing one run on six hits while walking one and fanning six. He ended up with 12 over eight innings, over which only Randal Grichuk posed problems.
The Cubs are sitting in third place in the NL Central, at 11.5 games back from the best team in baseball right now, the St. Louis Cardinals. Lackey defeated the Cubs 3-2 in his last outing with both runs plated on eight hits and three BB in seven innings. On a 1-2 count, Socolovich tried getting inside on Flowers with an 89 miles per hour fastball.
“We like him in that situation and he’s been in mostly tough situations”, Matheny said of the 28-year-old Venezuelan. After a 16-minute hiatus, Jason Heyward lined a hit to right center in the Cardinals’ second and hustled his way to a double as the throw from the outfield sailed well wide of second.
“I don’t really think about it that often”, Sale said of the record.
The top three teams remain locked together after the New York Yankees went down 2-1 to the Los Angeles Angels, the Baltimore Orioles lost 8-6 to the Texas Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays were beaten 6-2 by the Cleveland Indians.
Kendrick, whose four hits included a game-tying single in the seventh inning, hit a 1-0 pitch from David Hernandez (0-1) for his seventh homer of the season.
Having scored one run in their last game, the Cardinals are going to have to up their game if they want to win this matchup.
Marcus Hatley made his major league debut for St. Louis in the ninth, entering with the bases loaded and nobody out and top Chicago RBI man Jose Abreu at the plate.
Sale struck out the side in the third.
Fanning every Cardinals player at least once, Chris Sale received yet another no-decision for his efforts.
Sale has a league-leading 141 strikeouts this season, and is on pace to strike out a franchise-record 282 batters.
They optioned right-hander Junior Guerra to Triple-A Charlotte to make room for Jennings’ return.
Advertisement
Cardinals: LHP Jaime Garcia has not thrown a bullpen session since cramping in his groin in his last start last Wednesday and is a question mark for Thursday’s start.
