Cubs' Show Stopped Short In Cardinals' 5-4 Comeback

After last night’s thriller against the Cards, the Cubs looked to increase their division lead even more by putting Ted Lilly on the mound against Kyle Lohse. The big buzz was Albert Pujols’ 300^th career homer and the return of Jim Edmonds to his former stomping ground.

Last night, potential Rookie of the Year candidates (and possible All-Star starters) Kosuke Fukudome and Geovany Soto provided the runs in the Cubs’ 2-1 victory, but now it was the veterans’ turn, as Mark DeRosa’s solo shot in the 3^rd put the reigning NL Central Champions up 1-0.

It remained pretty quiet until DeRosa tripled to left center, Mike Fontenot walked, and Ryan Theriot singled, knocking in DeRosa to make it 2-0. But the Cards would strike back, as Rick Ankiel hit his 18^th round-tripper of the season to cut the lead in half at 2-1. Then Pujols connected with ground-rule double and stole third during Ludwick’s at-bat. Ludwick would then double, Pujols would score, and the game was knotted up at 2-2.

Molina managed to reach on an infield hit, putting the runners at the corners, but the boys in blue turned a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat.

After Lee doubled to open the 8^th, Ramirez hit his 15^th of the season off of reliever Ryan Franklin to regain the 2-run lead at 4-2. Then Jim Edmonds, having gone 0-for-7 in two games, finally got on base with a walk before Franklin was pulled in favor of Kyle McClellan. Edmonds reached third off of a Soto single, but was thrown out at home by Ryan Ludwick on a DeRosa sacrifice fly.

After McClellan got through the 9^th, Piniella once again brought in Kerry Wood to try to close out. He walked Ludwick and Molina to start off, and then Adam Kennedy hit an RBI double to make it 4-3. Wood then intentionally walked Chris Duncan to load the bases for Skip Schumaker. But a groundout from Aramis Ramirez to home prevented Molina from tying it up. After Aaron Miles popped out to Ryan Theriot, it was up to Rick Ankiel to play hero. He ripped one to center, scoring Kennedy and Duncan to win it 5-4.

Kerry Wood (0.2 IP, 2 H, 3 BB) dropped to 1-1, while Kyle McClellan (2 IP, H, 2 BB, K) picked up his first win of the season to go to 1-3.

Starting pitchers Ted Lilly (9-5, 6 IP, 7 H, 5 K, BB, 2 ER) and Kyle Lohse (10-2, 7 IP, 6 H, 6 K, 2 BB, 2 ER) earned no-decisions.

With the win, the Cardinals moved back to within 2.5 games of the Cubs in the Central Division.