Rizzo, Lester help Cubs snap Cardinals' winning streak
The St. Louis Cardinals were 90 feet away from forcing extra innings and keeping their eight-game winning streak alive. Alas, another St. Louis comeback just wasn't in the cards.
Anthony Rizzo homered, Joe Maddon was ejected, and Jon Lester gave up one earned run over seven innings as the Chicago Cubs handed the Cardinals their first loss in nine games with a 6-5 victory at Busch Stadium on Wednesday.
The win snapped the Cubs' season-worst four-game losing streak.
Lester, who struggled in his shortest outing of the season against St. Louis on opening day, kept the Cardinals attack in check by scattering seven hits over seven innings while striking out six and walking two. The left-hander allowed four runs but was only tagged for one due to a pair of Chicago errors.
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Rizzo provided most of the offense for the Cubs, homering and doubling while driving in three runs off Cardinals right-hander Lance Lynn. The middle of the Cubs order - featuring Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Jorge Soler - combined to go 6-for-12 with five RBI and three extra-base hits.
The Cardinals appeared to be mounting yet another late rally with runners on the corners and two outs in the ninth, but Cubs closer Hector Rondon got Jhonny Peralta to ground into a fielder's choice for his sixth save.
Manager Joe Maddon was ejected for arguing balls and strikes during Starlin Castro's at-bat in the sixth inning.