Cardinals Repay Cubs with St. Louis Sweep

The Chicago Cubs swept the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley during the first weekend in May, the first series of the year between the division rivals, capping off the Northsiders’ climb into first place in the NL Central. At the end of the month, however, the Cubs were barely hanging on to first after a 4-6 stretch from May 20-29 ahead of a three-game weekend series in St. Louis. After losing the first game of the series on May 31, the Cubs also lost first place to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs would drop the next two to leave the season series with the Redbirds even at 3-3. Following the sweep in St. Louis, the Northsiders are now 1.5 games out of first place and face a stretch of games without an off day until June 17.

Friday, May 31

Cardinals 2, Cubs 1 /10

W: Hicks (2-2)
L: Montgomery (1-1)

This game was deadlocked at one run apiece from the top of the 2nd inning until the bottom of the 10th, when INF Matt Carpenter walked it off for the Redbirds on a single scoring INF Kolten Wong.

Saturday, June 1

Cardinals 7, Cubs 4

W: Gant (4-0)
L: Chatwood (3-1)
S: Martínez (1)

This game was tied at 2 ahead of the bottom of the 5th inning, when the game was held up due to a major storm system moving through the St. Louis area. Play was resumed after a very lengthy delay, which was a questionable decision by MLB given the injury risk from wet conditions. Swingman Tyler Chatwood entered the game for the Cubs but was unable to hold off the Cards, who scored three runs in the bottom of the 6th to take the lead. The Cubs climbed back within one run on an RBI double by INF David Bote, as well as a forceout by INF Kris Bryant that brought Bote home, but the home team was able to score some insurance runs in the bottom of the 8th on back-to-back jacks by former Cub OF Dexter Fowler and OF Harrison Bader.

Sunday, June 2

W: Wainwright (5-5)
L: Hamels (4-2)
S: Gant (3)

SP Cole Hamels went deep for the Cubs after a poor start against the Astros earlier in the week, allowing one unearned run on two hits in 7.0 IP, with two BB and four SO. His counterpart Adam Wainwright also went deep, allowing no runs on two hits in 8.0 IP with eight SO. The Cubs were unable to come up with a clutch hit to capitalize on the seven BBs issued by Waino.

In the top of the 8th, the Birds added an insurance run on a single by Carpenter to drive in Wong, which proved to be the difference, as the Cubs were able to rally for one run in the top of the 9th on a forceout scoring C Willson Contreras.

The Cubs will return home today to play a makeup game against the Los Angeles Angels starting at 4:05 PM ET. Cam Bedrosian (2-3, 3.08 ERA) will open for the Halos against Jon Lester (3-4, 3.59 ERA). Support the site by buying your tickets from SeatGeek!

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