Last night was not a W in Wrigleyville for John Lackey but Jason Hammel hopes to improve to 8-2 when he takes on Adam Wainwright. Hammel owns a 2-0 record against the Cards this year in St. Louis and looks to make the first of his starts this year at home against the Cards a W. While the veteran batting lineup seems to have his number, no one has reached 20 at bats against him.
Tonight would not be Hammel’s night going only 5 & 2/3 innings giving up 4 runs in the second and third innings. Stephen Piscotty would lead off the second with a double scoring on Brandon Moss’s single to center. In the third, Matt Carpenter would lead off with his 11th home run of the season. Aledmys Diaz would reach on a single the reaches home on Matt Holiday’s 13th home run of the season giving the Cardinals the lead with 4 runs.
With Adam Warren optioned to Triple-A Iowa and Clayton Richard on the DL, the contract of Gerardo Concepcion is brought up and the fastball pitcher immediately enters the game in the bottom of the 6th striking out Brandon Moss to end the inning and has a 1-2-3 7th inning. Pedro Strop takes the 8th striking out 2 batters as Travis Wood closes the game out.
The Cubs bats wouldn’t provide enough support for Hammel to get his 8th win of the season. They would strike first with Chris Coghlan leading off with a single getting pushed to third then scoring on Anthony Rizzo’s sac fly for the first run of the game.
Coghlan would then lead off the third with a walk and immediately scores on Jason Heyward’s 12th double of the year, a line drive to center. Wilson Contreras and Addison Russsel would both single in the bottom of the 4th with Contreras ending up at 3rd base and then scoring when Albert Almora grounds into a double play.
Cubs lose by 1 in their second straight loss to the Cardinals. There’s always tomorrow as long as the rain doesn’t stop them.
Go Cubs Go!
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