Jon Lester is taking to the mound tonight in Wrigleyville in what is his first appearance against the St. Louis Cardinals this season. He is looking for Win number 13. Looking back to 2015, he was 1-3 when facing the Cardinals but fortunately the man who gave him the most trouble, Jason Heyward is on the Cubs. Carlos Martinez is looking for his 11th win and is 1-1 this season versus the Cubs and looks to knock a game off the Cubs lead in the Central along with breaking their streak.
Jon Lester starts out the game strongly getting the first two outs but then gives up back to back singles to Matt Holliday and Brandon Moss. Yadier Molina hits another single but this one goes to right scoring Holliday for the first run of the game. He gets out of the first with only run. He then goes on to retire eight straight batters.
After the first out in the top of the fourth he gives up another hit to Molina but this time it’s a double and then a walk to Jedd Gyorko but again gets out of the inning. He then makes it a quick fifth inning and retires the first batter of the sixth. He gives up another a hit to Brandon Moss but this time it’s a home run for the second run of the game but again gets out the inning.
The Cubs wouldn’t really put Martinez into much trouble until the fourth with Anthony Rizzo’s triple to right. In the bottom of the fifth, Chris Coghlan walks and makes it to third on David Ross’s double to center. Lester would lay down bunt right back to Martinez. Martinet picks it, runs and tags out Coughlan at the plate scored as a fielders choice.
It would be the sixth where the Cubs get back to back singles from Bryant and Rizzo. With two outs Jason Heyward loads he bases with a single. Coghlan back at the plate sends a line drive to right for a double driving in two runs. Ross lays down a bunt back to the pitcher but this time it scores Heyward and Ross gets a single. The Cubs now took the lead and are up 3 – 2.
Travis Wood enters the game in the top of the seventh giving up a leadoff sinkage to Jedd Gyroko but Ross is able to pick him off for the first out. Wood then strikes out the next batter but with two outs he gives up a solo shot to Randal Grichuk to tie the game at three. After giving up a single to Matt Carpenter, Maddon brings Joe Smith into the game who gives up a double to Stephen Piscotty, Carpenter rounds all the bases, on his way home Coghlan’s relay to Russell to Ross ends the inning.
With the game tied at three we make it all the way to the 11th inning. Zach Duke takes over in the bottom half giving up a leadoff single to Wilson Contreras. He moves to second as Jorge Soler singles to third. Dexter Fowler walks to load the bases. Duke gets the second out of the inning but with Anthony Rizzo at the plate, the pressure gets to Duke as he walks Rizzo for the walk off base on balls. Cubs have now won 10 in a row!
Go Cubs Go!
The Podcast now on Tunein.com, Download the app today and follow us or Apple users can download us in the Podcast app today!
Sports Time Radio 