St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny called this game versus the Chicago Cubs "the biggest game of the season because it was today," and it ended up be a pretty big game in the standings as well.
The Cardinals were looking down the barrel of a three-game sweep at Wrigley Field going into the ninth inning down 5-4, but tha'ts when things changed a bit. The Cubs' shaky closers were bested once again in the ninth of tonight's game by St. Louis.
Jhonny Peralta will get the start at shortstop in the All-Star game for the National League - and he showed that it is well warranted. With two outs and down to their last strike in the ninth inning, Peralta got the best of Pedro Strop, pitching as the closer, with a two-run shot, putting the Cards up 6-5.
Michael Wacha got the start for the Cardinals and the All-Star sure didn't have his strongest outing of the year, but he managed to keeo his team in the ballgame. Wacha lasted six innings giving up five runs on seven hits while striking out six and walking one.
Chicago scored their first two runs of the ballgame in the fourth inning behind a triple from rookie Kris Bryant followed by a single from Starlin Castro that scored Bryant from third.
The biggest hit in the ballgame for the Cubs came with two outs in the sixth with the bases loaded. Miguel Montero crushed a pitch into the right center field gap clearing the bases and giving the Cubs their first lead of the ballgame at 5-4.
Jason Hammel toed the slab for the Cubs, but lasted just one inning as he was removed from the game with tightness in his left hamstring; he will undergo an MRI on Thursday.
After Hammel was taken out, Clayton Richard and Travis Wood came out of the bullpen for three innings apiece. Richard came on in the second and struggled in his stint out of the bullpen. He gave up four runs on seven hits while striking out just one and walking three.
The Cardinals scored two runs in the second inning behind an RBI single from Dan Johnson which was followed by an RBI single from pitcher Michael Wacha. They added two more in the fourth with a big RBI triple from Randal Grichuk and a second RBI single from Johnson.
Also of note, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny and catcher Yadier Molina were both ejected in the sixth inning for arguing balls and strikes.
The Cardinals avoided the sweep with the win and will head to Pittsburgh to begin a four-game series with the Pirates. The Cubs have to feel a little deflated after coming so close to a win, but will try their luck next with a home series beginning with their crosstown rivals, the White Sox, on Friday.
WP: Migeul Socolovich (3-1, 1.80 ERA)
LP: Pedro Strop (1-4, 3.03 ERA)(BS, 2)
SV: Trevor Rosenthal (25 saves, 0.69 ERA)