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Cardinals fall in first game of doubleheader

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After defeating one of their National League Central rivals, the Chicago Cubs, on Monday night by the score of 6-0, the Cardinals continued their four game series against them in a doubleheader on Tuesday. The Cubs, meanwhile, looked to avenge the prior night’s loss, in which it was a scoreless tie for most of the night, before the Cardinals ran up the score late.

And they did so, as, despite a late attempt at a comeback by the Cardinals, it was the Cubs who took game two of the series, 7-4 on Tuesday afternoon.

For game one of the doubleheader, the pitching matchup featured Tyler Lyons (2-0, 5.09 ERA) for the Cardinals going up against Jake Arrieta (8-5, 2.80) for the Cubs.

The game started with two scoreless innings by both Lyons and Arrieta. But during the bottom of the third inning, the Cubs took the lead, by scoring for the first time during the series. It started by back to back singles from Dexter Fowler and Anthony Rizzo, respectively. Kris Bryant stepped up to the plate next, and grounded out, which advanced both runners. Jorge Soler reached base next on a fielder’s choice out, as catcher Tony Cruz was able to tag out Fowler at home plate, for the second out.

With Chris Denorfia up to bat, Lyons threw a wild pitch, putting Rizzo on third. Denorfia then singled as well, scoring both Rizzo and Soler, and giving the Cubs an early 2-0 lead over the Cardinals.

Arrieta went back to work, putting the Cardinals down in order 1-2-3 to start up the top of the fourth inning, and while Lyons got out of a jam in the bottom of the fourth, the Cubs still maintained their 2-0 lead.

Chicago added to their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Arrieta led off with a single (his second hit of the game), and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Johnathan Herrera. Later in the inning, with two outs, Rizzo walked. Marcus Hatley then entered in relief of Lyons, with two inherited runners.

The final line of the game for Lyons: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 5 BB, 3 Ks.

Hatley issued two straight walks to Bryant and Soler, with the latter scoring Arrieta making it 3-0 Cubs.

During the top of the seventh inning, it looked as though the Cardinals were going to comeback, as they scored two runs to make it a 3-2 game. Jhonny Peralta walked to lead off the inning. After two straight outs, Peter Bourjos came up to bat, and hit a double, scoring Peralta to make it 3-1. Xavier Scruggs then followed with a single, scoring Bourjos to make it 3-2, which is what the score was heading into the bottom half of the inning.

Mitch Harris entered to pitch in relief of Hatley, and pitched a shutout half inning.

But it was in the bottom of the eighth inning where the Cubs took full advantage in the game. With Randy Choate on the mound, Herrera led off with a single, and Fowler followed with a double, scoring Herrera to make it 4-2 Cubs. Rizzo then hit a two-run home run to make it 6-2. Miguel Socolovich entered to replace Choate afterwards, and Bryant stepped up to bat, and hit a single. Soler then reached base on a throwing error. With two runners on, Denorfia hit a single, scoring Bryant, making it 7-2.

In the top of the ninth inning, with one out, and Neil Ramirez on the mound, Jason Heyward hit a sharp single, bringing up Mark Reynolds, who belted his sixth home run of the season, to cut it to 7-4 Cubs.

It wasn’t enough however, as the Cubs won the game 7-4. The Cardinals fall to 54-28, and the Cubs improve to 45-37. Arrieta improves to 9-5, as Lyons loses his first game of the season.

Later in the evening, Tim Cooney will get the start in game two of the doubleheader.

 

 

 

 

(AP Photo/David Banks)

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